ok folks i need to know what to do about trying toget my six yr old nephewfrom sucking his thumb.?

Question

he has been sucking it since he was in the womb.so me and my sister need yalls help

Answer 1

I wonder why this is your concern. Are you his guardian? Most parents don't want outsiders intervening in their children's upbringing or disciplining them.

Answer 2

I was a thumb-sucker until I was about 10. Mother tried everything. Soap, hot sauce, big bandages that were the size of a cast, spanking, yelling. All I learned was that I liked hot sauce.

My son grew up sucking his index finger. I was glad. Shocked? Don't be. Here is my reason: it seemed to soothe him or bring him solace in some way. If he could find his own way to handle stress or fear, good for him.

It began to diminish when he entered kindergarten; I assume from peer pressure (not always a bad thing, is it?). By the time he entered 2nd grade, he would do only at night falling asleep. I let him alone because I had seen with my own eyes that it was diminishing. Eventually it faded away. FYI - the idea that thumb-sucking causes buck teeth is an urban myth. I do not have buck teeth and other former thumb-suckers I have known don't either.

Answer 3

I was a thumb sucker and my mom tried everything to get me to stop - putting nasty tasting things on it, wrapping a bandage on it, trying to distract me. Nothing worked. Then, the dentist told her that she should make a calendar. Every day that I don' suck my thumb, I would get a gold star. After 30 days, I got a present. If I sucked my thumb within that 30 days, I had to start over. I was done with my thumb in 30 days. I was about 5 when she started this. It's worth a try!

Answer 4

Motivate your child by talking to him or her about why it is important to stop thumb-sucking. Explain that stopping will help him have a beautiful smile and nice teeth. Let your child know that continuing will cause problems with how his or her teeth grow.

Use a mirror to show your child the changes happening to his or her teeth or mouth shape.
Talk about the unhealthy germs that are on our hands and how the child puts the germs in his or her mouth by thumb-sucking.
Talk to your child about becoming a "big boy" by stopping thumb-sucking. Remind your child that he or she may be teased for continuing thumb-sucking.
Make sure you choose the right time to have this discussion. Children often suck their thumbs to relieve stress. Picking a stress-free time will help the child succeed. Also, a child probably needs to be 4 or 5 in order to understand your reasoning and to be able to cooperate in this process.

keep your child's hands busy with puzzles, games, crafts, or other favorite activities. You may need to limit TV time since many children unconsciously suck their thumbs while watching TV.
You may wish to use a bandage or a bad-tasting substance such as Thum that is painted on the fingernail to remind your child not to suck the thumb or use hot pepper or something bitter. If the bandage or coating comes off, replace it without being critical or embarrassing your child.
Carefully remove your child's thumb from his mouth during sleep. Thumb-sucking at night is the most difficult habit to break. It may take up to 3 months before your child is able to fall asleep without thumb-sucking. Try offering a favorite stuffed animal or putting a hand puppet on your child's hand at bedtime as a reminder. Gently explain to your child that if he or she continues to suck the thumb during the night, the habit will not go away and the changes to the mouth will continue to occur.
Avoid putting your child in situations that are upsetting while he or she is trying to break the thumb-sucking habit; your child will likely turn to thumb-sucking for comfort. Make sure your child gets enough sleep and food during this time.
Offer plenty of praise when your child goes without thumb-sucking during an activity that normally would have included that habit. Do not shame or punish your child for thumb-sucking; this will only lower his or her self-esteem.
Throughout this process, provide empathy and encouragement, and be available for your child. Acknowledge that this is a difficult habit to break. If you are consistent, patient, and positive, your child will be more likely to succeed. Remember this is your child's habit to break, and he or she must be willing to cooperate. Do not force your child to comply.

Answer 5

Please don't use hot sauce, that could cause chemical burns on a child's tongue if he's not used to it.

I'd ask myself why it matters. He won't graduate from high school doing it, in fact, a little mockery from his classmates will probably remove it rather quickly, before the end of the school year.

What he needs from you is to be a loving aunt, and he needs the same unconditional love from his mother.

Answer 6

if your sister really wants the help then tell her to get the stuff you paint on nails that tastes really bitter. It is for nail biting. You will need to apply it every day till the habit is broken then I would do it for 2 more weeks. Doing it with my daughter for nail biting

Answer 7

Try a reward system for him not sucking his thumb for a period of time.

Answer 8

Try getting him something else to suck on. That will seriously hurt his teeth and he will need braces. Try getting some candy, just dont over do it.

Answer 9

my baby sister did the same thing but then she started growing up and she figured out that it was wrong and if that doesnt work give him a toy or candy so he could suck on

Answer 10

to late. thats why children like this one who enjoy sucking, needed a dummy.

if they dont get one when they want one then they will probably use their thumb.

and dummy is always better because at least u can REMOVE it from them!!