How can I stop him?

Question

I have noticed that my son still sucks his thumb when he sleeps. He will be 4 in a week from tomorrow, and I feel he is too old to still be sucking his thumb. How can I stop him?

Answer 1

There are all kinds of tricks you can try. I even saw a contraption that you strap to the poor child's hand -- like a big plastic sleeve over their thumb to keep them from sucking. But I don't know if any of that will work. The child will continue to do it for as long as he needs to. If he's asleep while he's doing it, he may not realize he does it. If you find his thumb in his mouth while he's asleep, try pulling it out gently and moving his hand from his face. He may slowly stop using it. Other than that, I'm kinda stumped.

Answer 2

I sucked my thumb for a long time. I only did it outside the house until maybe first grade... then it was only at night. My parents tried everything to get me to stop: Band-aids, nail polish, gloves, etc. But I was bound and determined to suck my thumb. Finally what ended up working was a combination of things. I was bribed with a stuffed animal that I really wanted. If I didn't suck my thumb at night for so long, mom would buy me the stuffed animal (she'd check on me at night after I was asleep). I finally got the animal, but started back up again - so she took it away. The plan kept working in incriments and the problem finally went away. I also think I stopped because I noticed that it was leaving a mark on my thumb and I was embarrassed at school when my friends asked what it was from.

Take advice from one of the answers and stick with it... eventually he'll stop.

Answer 3

Thumb sucking is quite common, and, according to the American Dental Association, causes no problems unless it is continued _beyond_ four or five years of age.

Research suggests that the best way to make sure that your child stops this naturally is to NOT BUG HIM OR HER ABOUT IT. Researchers found that the only common factor between all the children that continued thumb-sucking after age five or so was that THEIR PARENTS TRIED TO STOP THEM.

Sorry for the all caps; but most people don't believe this when they see it.

By the way: bad tastes usually don't work, either - kids can get used to just about any taste you can put on their thumbs.

So, to repeat - the best way to get your children to stop sucking their thumb is to leave them alone and let them get over it themselves. (See the link.)

Answer 4

Put something disgusting that he hates on his thumbs that way when he goes to suck them he will stop. Eventually he will get used to not sucking them and vola problem solved.

Although my cousin who's 17 now used to suck his thumbs only at night until he was like 6, i think it helped him get to sleep. Then he just randomly stopped, probably because he grew out of it so maybe the same thing will happen with your son..? My cousin also didn't end up with anything wrong like with his teeth or anything.

It might be a way of your son getting himself to fall asleep too. Personally if its just during the night and hes only 4 i don't see much of a problem with it for now. About it being babyish, unless your son actually acts babyish on a normal basic and your trying to get him out of that then it doest seem babyish for a 4yr old to do at all. Also who's going to See him but you?

If you feel its best go with what I said first, your his mom so you will know whats best Every kid is different.

Answer 5

That is one of the toughest habits to break. You may find that it is impossible. The yucky stuff on the thumb has worked for some and not others. I would say your best bet is to talk to a dentist and see if he is causing any oral problems. Some thumb suckers suck harder and actually pull on their teeth causing the teeth to push out etc. If it is a really problem their are things dentists can do to help. Good luck with this.....

Answer 6

If your son is sucking on his thumb only while he is asleep, why are you concerned? Aren't there things that you do in the privacy of your bedroom that help comfort you? Besides, he is doing this while he is asleep - he isn't consciencely deciding to disobey you. I wouldn't worry about it at all especially if he isn't doing it in public. It is a comfort to him and he isn't hurting anyone - not even anyone's sensiblitiies by doing so in public. Let him help himself feel more secure and don't make it an issue.

Answer 7

I had a thumb sucker too. It was mostly at night and this was the hardest time to stop it. I came across a product called thumbguard and we were able to stop the habit within a few weeks. The url is www.thumbguard.com.au.

Good luck.

Answer 8

thumb sucking is very common. i didnt stop until 7 years old. my mother had made up an idea. u get a thick peice of string, tie one end to the hand and the other side to your upper leg. if u lift ur hand to suck your thumb while lying down, pulling up ur leg would make u wake up.

Answer 9

I know you feel he is getting to old to suck his thumb but I wouldn't worry about it until he is five. Check out the link I will post for some helpful hints. It will be much easier to get him to stop when he is willing to do it.

Answer 10

At Walgreens they sell this thing - I think it's called Thumb Stop or something like that, they have it in the section with baby teething stuff. I think it's neww and is specificaly for thumb sucking.