How do you break a child a thumb-sucking habit?

Answer 1

This worked on my sister

Whenever they have the urge to do this, give them a lollipop instead. Try it, it really works!

Answer 2

Thumb suck= not a big kid. Get that across. When you catch him doing it if he is doing somthing that big kids do, like things that baby's can't do. Then make him stop and do somthing else. And make sure he takes it out of his mouth. If it is a night timing sucking problem, then get somthing to put on which ever thumb he sucks to keep him from doing it. Or you can talk to a dentist to look into a retainer of some sort. He will still be able to put it into his mouth but it wont be pleasurable as it usually is. It should actually in some manner hurt his thumb from it pressing against the retainer.

Answer 3

There is no problem with a child sucking his thumb. It is a great source of comfort to a child who needs to do this. I am not a big fan of taking away something so nurturing to a child as thumb sucking or a soother. They will let it go when they feel much more secure in their surroundings and in this big scary world that surrounds them.

Answer 4

First of all i would say "y do u have to stop it?" im 14 n i still suck my thumb be4 i fall asleep or when im tired....its the only thing that puts me 2 sleep..n doctors say that its gonna cause my teeth to bend or not be straight, but i have perfect teeth n i always get good compliaments.

But when my sister was 16 and she still sucked her thumb the dentist but this spiked retainer in her mouth so every time she sucked her thumb the spikes would poke her, but it also affected how she ate because everytime she chewed she would poke her tongue and that would bleed also..but after 1 month she nva sucked her thumb again!!

Answer 5

How old is your child? If young enough (under 2 years) just remove your child's thumb from his/her mouth for him/her each time you see this happening. If older than 2 years, tell him/her not to suck his/her thumb, each time. If even older, then tell them they will have buck teeth if they keep it up. Now that scared the "you know what" out of my cousin when his mom told him that. She went as far as to show him what buck teeth looked like. After telling the buck teeth scare, every time she saw him sucking his thumb, she would show him her buck teeth face, with out uttering a word. He would automatically remove his thumb. He even got to the point he would catch himself and pull his thumb out real quick, with a relieved look on his face :) Hope this can work for you. Good luck.

Answer 6

Many, many years ago I sucked my thumb ALL THE TIME, my older siblings put black pepper on my thumb. My parents taped my thumb and nothing worked.
When my little one started sucking her thumb I gave her "the eye" and told her every once in a while her thumb was dirty. Sometimes when she was playing with puzzles she would suck her thumb and I would just tell her, you are sucking your thumb...and throw in the eye. I read somewhere that sometimes they don't even realize they are doing it. So start with letting them know they are doing it and you don't want them to.

Answer 7

Im not sure but i sucked my thumb until i was 11. I dont have any problems now and it was sort of a comfort thing. I think your child will grow out of it when they are ready to. People put the horrible tasting nail polish on their thumbs but unless they are giving themselves dental problems, i dont really see the need. Goodluck.

Answer 8

My youngest sucks her thumb besides. To be honest i myself hate that she began because of the easy certainty how not undemanding it somewhat is to interrupt. She didnt start up till she substitute into around 8 months or perhaps nonetheless she has bogged down, she nonetheless turns to her thumb while shes disillusioned (crying, thirsty, gets harm etc.) My oldest by no ability did, and by no ability enjoyed a pacifier the two so she didnt have a not undemanding time getting weaned off of something - she didnt even throw a in effective condition over dropping bottles at 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. I havent tried something to end her yet, because of the fact she continues to be very youthful, yet I figured if she didnt bring about a pair months i could positioned up this question besides. solid success and enable me understand what helps i'm curious to be sure!

Answer 9

Wait until they are ready and they will cure themselves. My daughter LOVED her thumb and when she was 6 and a half the dentist told her that her teeth were starting to protrude and she made up her mind to stop. It took her about a month, but she did it. Those other techniques might work, but if the child isn't ready, they will just go back to it.

Answer 10

About 46 years ago, my Mother's solution was to place the inside cardboard from a paper towel roll on my arm (of course, I had skinny arms). With the cardboard on my arm it was impossible for me to bend my arm enough to get my thumbs to my mouth. She said it worked like a charm and sounds so much less cruel than putting fowl tasting things on a child's hands. Certainly won't hurt anything to give it a try. We know it worked at least once!!! Good luck!!!

Answer 11

When I was 5, my mom told me if I continued sucking my thumb, I would have to get braces. I never sucked my thumb again.