Any advice on how to help my 7 year old to stop sucking his thumb? He is willing to try.

Latesa - posted on 07/23/2009

you might just have 2 wait untill he is ready2 stop im almost out of my teen years and i still suck my thumb and my mom and dad tryed every thing like peper hot sauce tooth paste nothin work so just c if he is stop by him self

Sinolla - posted on 07/23/2009

Please let me know when u get the answer my daugther is 11 an still sucking her thumb.

Tricia - posted on 07/23/2009

I was married and would wake with my thumb in my mouth....how embarrassing....I did finally stop though. My teeth are fine. It is definatly a comfort thing and there's nothing you can do till he's ready. He'll be fine. Let it be.

Doreen - posted on 07/23/2009

I tried a 'Thumbuster' for my son (almost 7), and was amazed that it worked. When I got it, I was not impressed, and figured he'd take it off, or just suck his thumb in the thumbuster. But it worked, which was amazing because I'd tried everything. I NEVER though he'd stop sucking his thumb, but this totally worked for us. This is their link: http://www.thumbusters.com/ They are not that expensive, it's worth a try. Like I said, I'm AMAZED it worked for us.

Timbrel - posted on 07/23/2009

ok so i sucked my thumb until i was 12 years old...my parents tried everything to get me to stop...told me i couldnt have the first bike until i stopped...that didnt work..did the icky nail polish....i sucked straight through it...they did hot sauce on the thumb...they put bandaids on it. they bribed me...if i stopped within a week i woulda got $50...and to me that was `a lot at that age...they tried so many things...abd nothing worked...then one day i was in the 6th grade and i came to a self realization that i was too big for this...and i quit by myself... so u can try some of the things my parents did with me,...or if your son isnt willing to stop then he'll have to do it when he's ready...don't push him too hard...it'll scare him...it's a comfort thing

Brittany - posted on 07/23/2009

I have quad cousins and one of them sucked her thumb longer than the rest. I remember my aunt making a game at night about it (we lived with them at that time). She would "take" her thumb at night and so it "wasn't there" to suck. I don't how effective it was because I was only in Kindergarten at the time. I have heard of people putting chili powder on the thumbs and it sounds mean but works if they don't like it. I would just try to replace his thumb-sucking-comfort with a stuffed animal or blanket that he can carry around.

Rebecca - posted on 07/23/2009

My oldest sucked her thumb until right before kindergarten. I tried hot sauce,etc didn't work. She also had a blanket she carried around or just slept with. I took that away and she stopped sucking her thumb. I felt bad for taking it but, It was the solution to the thumbsucking. I still have her "blankie" but, its put up. She is 12years old now she defin. don't need it. But, it helped her to know I wasn't throwing it away that she just wasn't allowed to have anymore because she was a big girl.

User - posted on 07/23/2009

Is this the only "calming" action he does, or does your son display other signs when he is nervous or exposed to new things?

Shawna - posted on 07/23/2009

Children don't always "just stop." I knew people who sucked their thumb long into teen years, myself included. I didn't (obviously) do it in public, but when I was at home I would.



For me, nothing worked until I knew I had to stop because I was "way too old" to continue. My parents tried the horrible tasting stuff, jalapeno juice (I LOVE hot stuff), wrapping my thumb, etc. Nothing worked. Luckily, my teeth were fine. I have a slight overbite, but never needed ortho. work.



If your son really wants to stop I would try the incentive chart. Depending on how often your son sucks his thumb you may need short time frames. For example, if he sucks it constantly or very often you might want to start the chart with each hour he goes without sucking. Then as you notice longer time spans without sucking you can change it to every x hours, or morning, noon, and night. Have your son select 3-5 things he can work for and then you can have a prize chart- 2 stickers he gets x, 5 stickers he gets y, etc. This way the stickers mean something.



Keep in mind he may still suck his thumb at night when he is sound asleep. It has become a habit and so subconsciously he may still do it. Good luck...it is not an easy habit to break.

Katie - posted on 07/23/2009

that stop and grow stuff didn't work for me as a kid.... i have always hated vinegar and so my parents had to use that to get me to quit sucking my thumb. take either the stop and grow, or something he doesn't like and put it on the thumbs... should get him to quit. however... i also agree with the chart/reward idea too. what i would suggest is to try that first... if it doesn't seem to be working in a few weeks or however long you set the time period for the chart, i would try putting something on his thumb. someone said he will stop when he stops getting attention for it... i agree... he may be doing it for more than just a comfort thing... i would stop giving him attention when he does it and see how that works.

Tamara - posted on 07/23/2009

They sell this stuff at walgreens or any drug store called stop and grow! I used it on my daughters thumbs and with in 4 days she stoped! It is really nasty tasting! Good luck I hope it works!

Kathleen - posted on 07/23/2009

Leave him alone and stop making comments about it, he will stop when he stops getting attention for it.

User - posted on 07/23/2009

You might also make a reward chart for a few weeks - and he gets to earn a prize if he doesn't suck his thumb for 2 weeks (or whatever time line you choose).

I would divide the time chart into morning, afternoon, and bedtime, and every period that he goes without sucking his thumb he earns a sticker - when the chart if full - he gets the reward!

Girlio - posted on 07/23/2009

They don't just stop sucking always. My younger brother did just stop 1 day, I on the other hand did not. It got to be a problem as it was affecting my teeth. I had to go to the dentist and get a "crib" put in. It went behind my front teeth on top and was little spikes and when I put my thumb in my mouth it would hurt and poke my thumb (it never broke skin unless I bit really hard on it). I think I had this in for about a year. In the future I needed minor orthodontic work done. The crib is/was cheaper than the ortho work and I had friends who's parents thought this method was cruel and their kid would stop sucking one day - they were 12 and had to have extensive ortho work done that cost them well into the multi thousands of dollars (vs the 500-1000 for the crib). Not to mention the fact that now I am an adult my thumbs are deformed from sucking and my thumb nails grow crooked.

Janet - posted on 07/23/2009

I was going to say something similar. Not something spicy or hurtful but something that doesn't taste good. Also everyone that sees the thumb go in the mouth should say "Thumb" That will help him pull out of the habit naturally. Do not wait for him to stop. It will effect his teeth badly. Also you may ask your dentist or even visit with an Orthodontist for a console. It is really important that he stops as soon as possible. Another thing might be to give him something to hold like a piece of satin while he is watching t.v. That way he can rub it between his fingers to substitute the comfort that comes with sucking his thumb.

Krista - posted on 07/23/2009

You can pretty much find it at any drugstore, Tracey. I'm not familiar with the drugstores in the states, so I wouldn't be able to recommend one, but this is what you're looking for:
http://www.reachpharmacy.com/shop/files/...

Claire - posted on 07/23/2009

Wold just wait till he is ready and he will naturally stop doing it. Think as they get bigger they realise that their friends aren't sucking their thumbs and that it isn't "cool" to do it anymore. Just another option for you.

Tracey - posted on 07/23/2009

Were would I find that? I looked for something like that at Target, but didn't see anything.

Krista - posted on 07/23/2009

You might think this is a bit mean, but there is this stuff called Stop and Grow. It is for nail biting. It's a HORRIBLY tasting nail polish type coating that you put on. I can guarantee you that if you coat his thumb with that and keep coating it, he'll stop.