How do I break my son from sucking on his thumb?

Question

My son is 19 months old and sucks his thumb religiously, I just noticed today that his thumb has a big cut in it and the skin is all dried up, I know this is bad but any suggestions on how to break it?

Answer 1

Personally, i would pick my battles. My younger brother sucks his thumb until he was like 7. One of the twins sucks her thumb still at 14 months, and she has a bump on it just from that, but it's not going to hurt them.

Answer 2

While at 19 months sucking his thumb will probably not hurt your son, it is a habit that has to be broken eventually. My four-year-old still sucks her thumb some, but now only in bed before she falls asleep. I basically told her that her friends at pre-school wouldn't think that she was a big girl if she sucked her thumb at school all the time.

One temporary measure to get your son to stop sucking is to put a band-aid on his thumb so that it tastes and feels strange to him.

Answer 3

Usually it may take some time eventually he'll see what it means to be a big boy but you have to show him and teach him. Remember though every child is different and different techniques work for different children, sometimes all it is is patience. Try breaking him slowly by substituting by possibly giving him a sucker or hard piece of candy but not all the time because of the sugar. Keep his hands busy. It may be a security thing, try to see what he may be insecure about by nurturing him if he's shy try to tell him that its okay mommy is there he/she wont hurt you. Another is try tobasco sauce, my cousin did it when she was 4 everytime she put that thumb in her mouth believe me she took it out....but I wouldn't do this to a 2 yr old! I would wait a little and make that my last resort!

Answer 4

Do NOT do what Melk up there suggests---you do NOT put a bandaid on the thumb of a 19 month old---he could put it in his mouth to suck the thumb, suck the bandaid off and COKE to death on it... Geez where DO you people get your parenting skills???? Just leave the kid alone..... we ALL grow out of sucking our thumbs eventually..... I knew a mother who's son wasn't off the bottle yet on the first day of KINDERGARTEN..... by the end of that first day, he was totally done with the bottle---kids made him "realize he was too old for a bottle"......

Answer 5

I wouldn't worry too much for now because he is so young. However, if it is really bothering you try distracting him with a cuddly toy or blankie. Unlike other parents on here I would have to say there is something to worry about when he gets older. For one it will mess up his teeth. Two I sucked my middle two fingers til I was almost 17 I was very insecure so it was a comfort thing. Just keep watching him and don't put too much pressure on him. Good Luck!

Answer 6

My doctor said it's normal and don't try to make a big deal of it. The dentist said it's fine till they are 5. they usually stop on their own. You can keep his hands busy. But for now don't make a big deal of it.

Answer 7

well i sucked my thumb till i was 8. what got me to stop was my friend told me that they will put spikes in your mouth to cut your thumb if you dont stop...so i got scared and stopped. scare tactics arnt great....maybe you could put somthin that smells bad...or find a stuffed animal to replace his thumb when he needs comforting

Answer 8

Geez - he's a baby. Let him suck his thumb if he wants to. He'll quit, and the sooner you quit making a big deal about it, the sooner he'll feel like it doesn't matter and stop.

I hate parents who think their kids should be f*cking PERFECT from birth.

Answer 9

there is this stuff called no bite nail polish it taste like crap...i was told to use that to stop biting my nails. and let me tell you i forgot i had it on and stuck it in my mouth..OMG. it was horrible and i stopped.. as long as i had it on my nails.so try it it might help. good luck

Answer 10

my daughter puts her hand in her mouth, i do not allow it so i say NO MOUTH! don't allow it