Does anyone know how to get a child to stop sucking there thumb?

Question

I have a three year old daughter that is always sucking her thumb.Theres been times shes even gotten blisters from sucking on it so much.Im just looking for some tip's on how to get her to stop.

Answer 1

It may sound harsh, but cayenne pepper works great!

Answer 2

Hi i sucked my thumb from the age off 6mths to 26 i enjoyed sucking my thumb it was a comfort thing to me,i only stopped because i started to have gel nails and the nail used to dig in to the roof of my mouth.My 9 yrd old daughter has sucked her thumb since 4 ths i dont try at all to stop her why should i ,its also a comfort thing too also she still hugs her blanket to while sucking her thumb.Her sucking her thumb doesnt bother me one bit shes happy and i am too,she has no problems with her teeth at all and nor did i.

Answer 3

http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=856

How old is too old?

According to the American Dental Association, thumb sucking does not cause permanent problems with the teeth or jaw line unless it is continued beyond 4 to 5 years of age. As it turns out, somewhere between 85% and 99% of children have finished thumb sucking spontaneously before this period.

Which children keep sucking their thumbs?

Many parents are concerned that thumb sucking at a late age is a sign of emotional immaturity or lack of self-confidence. When investigators have looked at late thumb suckers for common traits, they found only one thing in common that distinguished them from other children -- a prolonged history of a strong battle with thumb sucking at an earlier age. It is striking that many well-meaning parents have actually encouraged thumb sucking by trying to forcibly take the thumb out of their children's mouths.

Answer 4

There was fingernail stuff that used to taste terrible. It was for nailbitters but would work in this situation. Or you could try putting a heavy mitten on her hand.
I hate to say it, but bribes work too. Buy some little coloring books or cheap but safe items at the dollar stores. When she hasn't sucked her thumb in the course of a day, let her pick one item from the "treasure box" (the items you bought from the store) put into a shiny box. It worked for my daughter.

Answer 5

My son was 6 when he stopped, at that age I bribed him with a toy, his problem was he only sucked his thumb when he had his blanket. So I had to take the blanket away. I dont think that putting stuff that taste bad on the thumb works. I just told my son that if I bought him a nice toy he had to put his blanket up and stop sucking his thumb.

Answer 6

You can use one of the over-the-counter bitter preparations that are painted on nails or fingers.....but don't sweat it. Very few kids, even devoted thumbsuckers, are still sucking their thumbs in high school. The worst consequences are damage to developing teeth.

Answer 7

My mom used a bad-tasting product called "No Bite" that was supposed to discourage fingernail biting, but it worked on thumbs too. Cayenne pepper sounds mean, that is really spicy!

Answer 8

My mom used to put bandaids on my thumb to make me stop, and it worked.

Or put some hot sauce on the childs thumb, that way when they suck on it, it wont taste good.

Answer 9

try putting hot sauce on her thumb or a bandage because all of that sucking is messing up her teeth and pushing then forward

Answer 10

Give her a reward like... if I paint your nails then you cant suck on them and if she does then take the nail polish off!! That way she can see it and it will remind her!!