How can I get my 5 year old daughter to stop sucking her thumb?

Question

I am just interested in any ideas...

I would just like to add... she doesn't suck her thumb all the time it is just when she is tired! I am also not embarassed about her sucking her thumb I just don't want her to be a teenager that still sucks her thumb!

Answer 1

Glo has a good point about the reward chart thing and the lady who says her 25yr old brother woke up with his thumb is his mouth is scary! I suppose what ever you do you'll never stop what she might do in her sleep!

Unless she starts getting warts or her thumb nail drops off, I'd leave her too it and hope that eventually she'll grow out of it!

Answer 2

VINEGAR. It worked for my daughter who was three and a half and a permanent thumb sucker. The taste was so awful she didnt want to put her thumb in her mouth. After three days the threat of the vinegar bottle was enough. We also used bribery and told her that if she did not suck her thumb the thumb fairy may bring her a present( it worked) Also a visit to the dentist who may be able to encourage her not to suck her thumb. A s a parent I was horrified when he told me if she did not stop her teeth would protude out and look very goofy ( shock made me persevere with it all) good luck

Answer 3

sit down and explain what you want
praise her when she stops & remind her when she forgets
don't get frustrated - it may take some time - she is only 5 after all and this is a behaviour that is important to her (comforting etc.)

basically, she will stop when she is supported to stop and she will also learn a little more about boundaries and stuff if you go slow and be sensible and be consistent

the other remedies (hot liquid, chili, horrible pictures, nail polish, smacking) are barbaric ... [tortured childhood or what!]

and leaving her alone is just avoiding the situation and missing an opportunity to help her to grow; how can she know when to stop if you don't communicate?

if you don't take the opportunity now over a small thing, what will you do about the bigger things in life?

note: being consistent is really important - you might want to reflect on how consistently you were brought up and how consistent you are now (just a thought :)

Answer 4

Find things for her to do using her hands, finger painting, reading books. or you could set up an award system that is meaningful to her. Reward her for not sucking her thumb, however, be careful not to be to tough on her when she does. For instance you could make a chart and block off times (start slow) in increments of 1/2 hour or so. and give her stars or check marks when she doesn't suck her thumb and give her something to work towards.start with one half day, then one day then increase as it works for you. ( a play date, a favorite meal, a favorite activity, the purchase of a new toy) Good luck and God bless

Answer 5

This is NO joke... my brother is 25 years old and confided in me the other day that sometimes he'll wake up in the middle of the night w/his thumb in his mouth... no one has seen him suck his thumb since he was a little kid...but apparently he still does once in a while...I wouldn't worry about it...he's got a great job, and is a successful, upstanding citizen!

Answer 6

We wanted our DD to stop at that age because it was moving her teeth. We explained that to her and then put a bandaid on her thumb to remind her to not suck it. It took a few weeks, but she finally broke the habit.

Answer 7

Why, it is a comfort thing, there is nothing wrong with it, many people (not me) suck there thumb till they are older (my 17yr old daughter for one), some suck it all their lives.

Your daughter will stop if and when she is ready.

Answer 8

you can get this nail varnish that test like S.H.I.T i remember my mum putting it on my thumb when i was younger cant say it work to well i picked it off and got back down to sucking, but give it a try it might work on your daughter i think you can still get it from Avon
or a bit of hot pepper will work

Answer 9

its just a comfort for her she will stop in her own time dont make an issue of it she will do it all the more my hubby sucked his thumb till he was 18 yrs old!!

Answer 10

i am 18, nearly 19, and my mum tried everything. nothing has worked, i still suckmy thumb when i go to sleep at night, which compared to when i was younger is a reudction!!!Just let her know that her teeth will change, give her some photos of someone with messed up teeth and she will try in herself to stop. goodluck**)