How to stop a 1 year old child from finger and thumb sucking?

Answer 1

Rub some Alum onto his thumb. It is just a spice, so it wont hurt him. It just tastes really bitter and he won't like to put in his mouth anymore.

Answer 2

Keep in mind that children use thumb and finger sucking as a calming method - so be sure you keep this in mind as you break the habit. Never embarass or ridicule your child for their sucking. Remain calm and gentle all the time.

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. If the bandage or coating comes off, replace it without being critical or embarrassing your child.


Set a goal for how long your child will try to go without thumb-sucking. Start with one day, or even part of a day; then aim for longer periods. Let your child pick a reward for reaching that goal. I like stars on a posterboard (I used this for potty training too) kids love stickers and love putting them on a board even more! He/She will recognize their accomplishments and want to do more and more.

Answer 3

I think that its okay, I mean I suppose it's up to the parents, but my son never would take a pacifier, and the trade off is the finger sucking (or blanket chewing, or blanket eating) so I try to put a stop to that because my son will take small bites of the fuzz off of blankets. I think its because of teething, which doesnt seem to bother my son the way it does some kids, but I notice he chews his fingers and stuff. I tell him no no only food goes in the mouth, and it works a little. Just keep his/her hands clean and don't make too big a deal, I'm sure they will start to listen to you a little. My son who is 15 months now listens to more and more of my no nos every day. He is not defiant, he is actually starting to get it. Good luck!

Answer 4

Don't worry about that right now. you can't take their hand away from them. They will grow out of that on their own. My son is 2 and still sucks his fingers until he falls asleep. But he doesn't do it when he is awake. Little ones need something as a security. Some have pacifiers and some choose their fingers/thumbs. I wouldn't really worry about it right now.

Answer 5

I'm not saying that this will work for your baby but that's what my mum did to me when I was a baby --- she put some Tiger Balm (very bitter stuff) on my thumb one day when I had a temperature and my lips were cracked. I never wanted to suck my thumb again since that day! (It is a bit cruel so I won't recommend this method to you.)

Answer 6

I have the same problem with my 11 month old. He rubs his ear and sucks on his finger at the same time. When I see him doing this I give him a toy or his bottle to take his mind off his finger. It works sometime and other times it doesn't. You need to do something now because some outgrow it and some don't.

Answer 7

When I was little, I used to bite my nails. My parents tried everything from telling me to get my hands out of my mouth, pulling my hand out, keeping my hands busy, putting the nasty tasting nail stuff on my nails, putting pretty polish on so I wouldn't want to ruin them (probably the best effort), telling me to wear gloves, etc. I was stubborn and most of the stuff just made me more determined to undermine their efforts. I eventually just had to outgrow it, but perhaps something will work for you. A lot of toddlers do outgrow it on their own, so there's hope for you yet. Sometimes, they dont'. My boyfriend's parents rubbed a jalapeno on his thumb when he was older, but now he eats hot sauce on everything. Go figure. My cousin sucked her fingers and all it took for her was the promise that she could get her ears pierced if she stopped and that was all it took. Obviously that wouldn't work for a one-year-old, but perhaps a different kind of reward system could work to get them out of the habit, depending on whether the one-yr.-old is closer to one or two.

Answer 8

he/she will prob stop on there own but my daughter is 10 now and still sucks her thumb ive tried it all nothing ever worked good luck

Answer 9

Let them be. They only do it as a comfort, and if it works, then hey - let them be comforted! They all grow out of it.
It should only be of concern once mature teeth are through, and even then, takes a lot to disrupt the teeth.

Answer 10

Just keep telling the one year old to take her thumb out of her mouth, and take it out of her mouth. Eventually, it may take awhile to get her to stop.