How do i get my nine year old to stop sucking her thumb?

Question

My daughter will be 10 in Dec. and still sucks her thumb. We have tried everything from applying stuff on her thumb to rewards to counseling. The doctors and dentists are even telling her to stop saying it is ruining her teeth . She has been sucking her thumb since she was inside ( I have a sonogram pic of her doing it. ) I know that this is mostly a comfort thing for her since I left my abusive husband four years ago. Any suggestions????

Answer 1

I sucked my thumb until I was 12...but I only did it at home...at bed time..it's just a comfort thing...she feels safe doing it...especially with you leaving an abusive husband...she'll eventually STOP...I did...once she unfortunately starts to notice boys...she'll most likely stop...but just let her have her comfort..but tell her only at bed time...and not anywhere else...and hug her!! Just because.. :)

Answer 2

Our middle daughter, who is now 21, was a thumb sucker for a long time. We tried every nasty thing ever suggested on her thumb as well as taping a thumb guard to her thumb. We tried rewards, punishments, bribes, and (quite ashamedly) a bit of ridicule, for which we have apologized for. Her dentist talked to her about stopping with no results either. We were never successful at getting her to stop sucking her thumb, she had to do it on her own. We made it a "non-issue" between her and us with the only rule being that thumb sucking was a private issue so she had to do it in private. She was just about your daughter's age when we began to notice she wasn't absent-mindedly sucking her thumb while watching TV or riding in the car. If you ask her when she stopped, the only thing she'll say is, "I was pretty old when I stopped sucking my thumb." Turns out, her teeth are just fine and she never needed braces. I have an aunt who still sucked her thumb in high school. It is a comfort thing and a habit - hard to break, but she has to be the one to want to stop.

Answer 3

I don't know what doctors or dentists you go to but they are full of crap telling her she is ruining her teeth by sucking her thumb. There is nothing wrong with her sucking her thumb other than the fact that you don't WANT her to. The formation of her mouth/jaw and how her teeth are aligned are GENETIC, if either youself or your husband had to wear braces as a child she will more than likely have to as well. Sucking her thumb has nothing to do with her teeth being bad as the thumb does not depelet the flouride in toothpastes, or water, neither does it deplete the amount of calcium in her body and it does not errode the enamel on the teeth. Going to bed without brushing causes bacteria in the mouth which causes tooth decay, eating too many sweets can lead to tooth decay and not getting enough calcium rich foods can hinder the calcium in her body. Leave her alone about her thumbsucking (I know a number of adults who still suck their's) and concentrate on her brushing and getting the correct nutrition.

Answer 4

I just got my 4 year old to quit. My dentist recommended bribing with any oy in toys r us. Mine also sucked in utero! My daughter had a "lambie" that triggered her sucking. Does your daughter have something that instigates her sucking her thumb? It is hard to take it away. We did it gently, let her sleep with us the first night (something we NEVER do), let her fall asleep with me in her room the next night. Then, slowly she gave it up. After one week she got her 1st Barbie (obvioiusly this would not be the thing for your daughter) and after one week, she was fine! It was AMAZING! She has slept with the thumb and lambie since birth.

I also know there is a contraption you can put on the thumb, I will insert a link. It is pricey, but so is the orthodontist!!!!!!!!!! It is hard. Don't be afraid of some tears. Just try to keep it calm.

Answer 5

My uncle used to put the Hottest Pepper juice he could find on my cousins thumb when she wanted to suck it. After awhile she got frustrated and stopped sucking her thumb! I am not sure if you have tried this or not! It may sound cruel and mean but it worked and she learned fast! She was 13 yrs old and still sucked her thumb until her dad use the Hot pepper juice on it! Good Luck!!

Answer 6

soon enough she will be picked on for sucking her thumb and children will torment her for being a baby. this may get her to stop. children are cruel. if she's doing it for attention these days this will not be the attention she wants. talk to her about why she does it and how it makes her feel when she does and replace it with something else that may calm her or make her feel better. let it be her choice and let her know that she is growing up and it's not proper for a child of her age to continue to suck her thumb

Answer 7

Get mercuronome - it's that red, antibiotic liquid (sort of looks like iodine but comes in a small bottle). Paint her finger with it. Not only will it taste bitter, but she'll get the red stuff all over her mouth. She'll learn soon after not to suck her thumb anymore.

Answer 8

Maybe try different things on her thumbs, like spicey stuff. Or give her somthing else to fittle with. That is just a nervous tick so u need to give her somthing else to do like chew on gum, give her her oiwn pack of gum so when she feels like doing that she can just pop the gum in her mouth, that should help, good luck.

Answer 9

I had the same problem, but mine was with my youngest. She was sucking her middle and ring finger anywhere and everywhere. I asked her to stop, but it didn't work. So, finally, I told her that if she didn't stop she would get bugs and worms in her tummy. Call me a bad mommy, but it worked. Good luck!!!

Answer 10

slap her to sleep, NO just kidding, get some gauge tex wrap it around into a ball, she will hate it cause it looks funny and then the deal stop sucking and it comes off !