How do I get my two year old to stop sucking his fingers?

Question

It's not like a pacifier where we could ween it off of him. We can't very well take away his fingers. He sucks them almost constantly since he was in my womb. Sometimes we have to tell him to take his fingers out of his mouth when he talks because we can't understand him. Also, do you think that sucking his two fingers will not do as much damage to his teeth as if he were sucking is thumb? Can you give me some ideas that have actually worked.

Answer 1

this is pretty normal at this age. i wouldn't be too concerned , yet. most kids stop on their own between 2 and four. keep being encouraging - particularly reminding him to take his fingers out when talking. as long as he's taking, you don't really have to worry about that either - you already know the finger sucking hasn't delayed his speech! :-)

but there are plenty of ways to discourage thumb (and finger) sucking. check out the links below.

whatever you do, stay away from putting HOT stuff on his thumb. it could actually hurt his tongue, cheeks, or sinuses if it's too hot. there are other things you could use, like vinegar or products specified for it.

Answer 2

don't worry about it he will stop when he's ready. you may not like it but its not harmful. also as far as his teeth, there have been studies done in the dental field that thumb sucking and finger sucking do little to damage the teeth or bite when they are younger. if he goes past 5 or 6 then you might have to take some simple measures. talk to the pediatrician about it too. also consider replacing his fingers with an orthodontic pacifier as a substitute.

Answer 3

I'm not trying to answer this question with a question but does he only suck his fingers when he has a blanket? See to be honest I didn't stop sucking my fingers until I was about 7 years old and I only did it when I had my blanket. I had my mom take it and hide it from me and then I stopped doing it. There are also products that you can buy to put on his fingers that is going to have a bitter taste to it to try and stop children from sucking on their fingers. I seen it the other day when I was in Rite Aid look for gas drops for my two month old down in the baby isle. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Put something on his fingers that he wont like the taste of (something tha obviously wont hurt him. consult your doctor for ideas if you have worries) Perhaps something sour. Also, just because somebody sucks on their fingers or thumb doesnt ALWAYS mean they will have buck teeth. I know somebody that has sucked their thumb for 22 years so far, and you cannot tell because their teeth dont give you the slightest hint. It all depends on how they do it. If they push their fingers/thumb out when sucking eventually it will hurt the teeth but if its done in a relaxed almost lazy way there is no pressure on the teeth. Good luck.

Answer 5

I was a thumb sucker and so is my daughter. Our pediatrician told us that a therapist is a lot more expensive then braces so try not to force the issue. They will stop when they are ready. Right now with everything changing so quickly for them and still seeing and doing things for the first time it can be a scary place. Sucking their thumb gives them a boost of confidence and helps them deal with it.

Answer 6

My 3 year old still sucks his fingers and he always did. He only does it while he sleeps now so when I check on him at night, I take it out. It will damage their teeth but I think that they just grow out of it.

Answer 7

As a baby, I too sucked my middle hands, & no longer some thing worked to get my to provide up. My mom and father used bribery, they sewed the openings of a lengthy sleeved blouse close (I managed to get my hands by over the years). after I were given slightly older, I had to placed on a Bionator,(The Bionator or detachable sensible equipment is used for Pendulum anchorage in those brachyfacial varieties with short mandibular corpus length. It serves to maintain the distalized molar position even as coming up the decrease arch ahead.) which I hated and became too embarrased to placed on and hardly did, ensuing in me having a touch tremendous overbite. I extraordinarily advise an equipment that blocks sucking habit b/c it truly is going to in reality be momentary and has tremendous reward. sturdy success.

Answer 8

My daughter and granddaughter sucked their two fingers and I tried the drugstore remedies, old wise tales like hot sauce,(by the way they both love hot sauce to this day) schoulding and even hand slapping to no avail he simply has to grow out of it. Also my dentist told me that finger sucking as opposed to thumb sucking is better, becauce when you suck your thumb you are pushing your upper teeth out which promotes buck teeth!!

Answer 9

I would ask your family dentist for the most practical (and safe) suggestions.

I would think that it would be helpful to try to keep his hands busy so he doesn't get a chance to put them into his mouth. I wouldn't recommend "picante hot sauce" as another user recommended, because although it will prevent him from putting his fingers into his mouth, it will terribly burn his little eyes if he were to rub them (which most kids do).

It might also be helpful to put little mittens on his hands for a while to see if it will stop him from putting his fingers in his mouth.

You could also have something safe for him to nibble on (ask your family dentist for suggestions--maybe like a toddler teething ring or something) and give it to him whenever you see him reach to put his fingers into his mouth.

Hope this helps a little. Best wishes! :)

Answer 10

I have 2 year old wins that suck on their fingers. They only do it when they are hungry. They have almost stopped on their own but I do still have to remind the not to do it sometimes..