how do i stop my 8 year old child sucking her thumb?

Answer 1

Wassabi sauce will be too harsh for an 8 year old. I would suggest you dip his thumb in lime juice. Children hate sour things. Lime juice is not only good for his health but also it will prevent him from sucking his thumb too often.

Answer 2

This is an important habit to break. I didn't stop until I was 16. I am now 20 and know a few people my age that still suck their thumb. I've tried but my body got so used to it that i fall asleep with my hands near my side and when i wake up my thumb is in my mouth. It is very embarrassing when dating and can ruin ur looks (thank you braces) It has to be her choice. I never wanted to stop until i was 13. Hot sauce didn't help. Vick's vapor rub worked; didn't sleep well tho. One thing u can do is bring her to the dentist or show her on the Internet, pictures of people that look like Mr ED and tell her that will happen to her if she doesn't stop. Another method that my mom used on my sister was putting socks on her hands. One thing I've experienced and found out from my doctor is that when u suck ur thumb ur mouth produces more saliva, so when she stops sucking her thumb she might experience soar throats. My doctor told me to avoid soar throats to drink a citrus drink like orange juice before bed, to have a water bottle near the bed at night and soothing candy (but since she's only eight that might not be a good idea).

Answer 3

Putting hot sauce, lemon, etc. aren't going to stop it, your child isn't stupid she'll just wash it off, I know because I sucked my thumb until I was about ten (and I have really nice teeth by the way) the truth is sucking your thumb is a comfort mechanism, and the more attention you call to it just makes it more of a stressfull issue for your child making her want to...you guessed it, suck her thumb more. Just stop mentioning it, she will grow out of it in her own time. Not only that but she will eventually get teased by friends and that will be more initiative to stop than anything you say or do.

Answer 4

My oldest daughter had this problem and it drove me nuts. She was around 7 when we decided we had to do something. We used the bitter nail polish for months. It got to the point she would sit in the floor and cry that it burned when we put it on her thumb.. She would try to hide her thumb and then she would not come when we called her. We even caught her trying to wash it off by having the dog lick it. She only did this when she slept so we knew it was more habit than anything. So for weeks, I would check on her every few minutes after she went to bed and during nap time. Every time I caught her putting her thumb in her mouth I took it out. When I finally had to go to sleep I put the thumb sucker polish on her. I was exhausted but after a few months it became less and less. Children do this as a self comforting mechanism and it becomes a bad habit to break!

Answer 5

Dentist can help, They use a piece of plastic and/or metal that is custom-made for kids with this problems, it is placed behind her teeth, and she will stop sucking her thumb in no time at all. But kids her age use do this only to catch your attention, the best you can do is watch her closely. You can help her if you learn to read her signs, she might be trying to tell you something, your child can be successful with your support, love and encouragement.

Answer 6

My mom said when I was little to get me to stop sucking my thumb she tried... putting socks over my hands (i ate through them), she tried putting hot sauce on my thumbs (i sucked anyway, just cried a lot), she tried spanking me (that didn't work)! She said she tried others stuff too but nothing worked, eventually I grew out of it, the bad thing was it caused me to have an overbite bigtime and then I got braces! Maybe ask a doctor?

Answer 7

I have wondered that with my daughter! I have tried Hot pepper and nail polish and things like that even that stuff for thumb suckers! It tastes horrible but she still sucked her thumb!! We told it will fall off if she doesn't stop! The dentist told her she will need braces if she doesn't stop!! It is a hard habit to break really!!

Answer 8

Put hot sauce on it... If her thumb is cracked they'll be crying in no time just remind your child that sucking the thumb is a bad thing... You should've stopped this a long time ago...

Answer 9

You'll have to offer incentives for her to quit during the daytime. As for night, you should ask your dentist for a thumb guard. It keeps them from putting it into their mouths at night in their sleep. My daughter's dentist had a big talk with her and said that she was a big girl now and it was time for her to stop. He handed her his business card and said he wanted her to call him herself in a week and tell him that she had stopped. He would be waiting for her to call. It worked! My daughter will sometimes still slide her thumb in without knowing when she's asleep. That's why the thumb guard is a good idea. You do need to get her to stop though because it causes the top teeth to be too far forward. That just means $3000 in braces for you!

Answer 10

Don't ignore this issue!

I am 22 and I still suck my thumb. I grew dependant on it to fall asleep. It is a bad habit like smoking or doing drugs. Try to have your child break this habit as soon as possible. I have an overbite and and underbite due to thumbsucking.

No one in my family tried to break me of this habit until it was too late, and then I tried hiding it from them.

Other people's advice here should help:)