Communities

Moms With School Age Kids

All Communities > Moms With School Age Kids > How do you stop your child from sucking her thumb?

How do you stop your child from sucking her thumb?

Brandy - posted on 05/12/2009 ( 4 moms have responded )

4

5

My daughter will be 6 in September & will also be starting kindergarten. I had a C-section with her & she literally was taken out with her thumb in her mouth! And since then, has remained loyal to her thumb. Along with the thumb habit she also twirls her hair. She favors her right side & then the hair breaks off. Currently, she has a "pixie" style hair cut. Last night, I caught her twirling the top. We've tried the "stop thumb" polish, wearing a hat & gloves, reward chart, praise when we see that she isn't doing it & she just won't stop. Anyone have any helpful "cures" that will break this habit? I really want her to be able to break this habit & nothing has worked! Thanks so much!!

Join Circle of Moms

Sign up for Circle of Moms and be a part of this community! Membership is just one click away.

Join Circle of Moms

4 Comments

View replies by

Krista - posted on 05/12/2009

71

27

We had the same problem and it didn't stop until first grade for us. I talked to his dentist about it, and the dentist made him a deal. If he was totally done sucking his thumb by the next visit, he would get a gift certificate to ice cream. I put a bandaid on it to remind him when it was in his mouth. Also, when she's watching tv or something when it's normal to suck, give her something to occupy her hands, like building something, or whatever.



The thing to NOT do, is make them feel bad about it. Don't bug her about it or anything like that, because it'll make it worse. They suck to feel better, if you do that, it may only increase.



Good luck

Bernadette - posted on 05/12/2009

79

16

We used the polish on the thumb along with the 'Thumb sucking fairy' who checked if she was sucking her thumb or not. If she didn't suck her thumb she would get a small reward or treat under her pillow each night. She stopped sucking her thumb (it took about 6 weeks) but now bites her finger nails - all of them!! I think once a thumb sucker always a thumb sucker and if they can't do that they'll do something else.

Peta - posted on 05/12/2009

6

22

I would suggest taking her to see a craniosacral therapist. Sometimes our children know exactly what they're doing and maybe the sucking the thumb is trying to correct something in her palate. A craniosacral therapist would be able to assess this and perhaps help. Then the thumb sucking may go away all by itself.

Amanda - posted on 05/12/2009

9

12

I wish I knew, my daughter got hooked on a 'binky' as a baby, when we took that away she started sucking her thumb at night...

Powered by RESPECT not THUMPS

Want to find out the opinions of this community?

Add Poll