Help with thumb sucking daughter

[gails nails]

My daughter, who is 2, sucks her thumb. Which is great on occasions, as it is an instant calming comfort for her. But, she is makng her thumb sore. I have been trying to: 1) stop her doing it, which turns into a game, because I'm not being firm as I don't want to upset her about it, cause that would make her suck her thumb harder. 2) get her to use the other one, which obviously doesn't taste the same, so the favourite one goes back in after a few seconds. I've thought about putting cream on, but then not a good idea, seeing as she'll stick it in her mouth. When I take her out in the push chair I put mittens on. Which of course get pulled off so she can suck her thumb. She then takes her thumb out for a chat to me. Her thumb of course is wet, so I think she's got chapped thumb. Which then again makes me think of putting cream on. Has any one else had this problem?

 

[cherubs]

My daughter sucks her thumb she's nearly 8, it's never got sore tho! and I have to admit I still suck mine too :lol:
I had the same probs as you when she was little, taking gloves off etc, now she's older I think she realises that she'd rather have warm hands and saves her thumb till she gets home :lol:
This isn't really much help to you is it :smack:

What about trying that horrible tasting stuff that you put on your nails to stop you biting them??

 

[Bagpuss]

I searched "help with thumb sucking child" to try and find some info for you and loads came up...from help sites to books to thumb gaurds....to many to post on here but try searching what i did. xx

 

[gails nails]

Thank you both for getting back to me.:hug:

I had thought about the nasty tasting stuff, but worried because she is so little. I'll go ask a chemist in the morning.

I'm so addicted to being on this site all the time, I forget there are other sites out there. I'll have a look.

 

[Cathie!]

Personally, from my experience as a mum of 3 thumb suckers, I think she is a little young for you to try and kick the habit just now......so many toddlers suck their thumb during the day....you're right, it is a comfort thing and it does help you out at times, they get tired and they still have that sucking reflex they are born with until they are around 7, so I have read.....too many toddlers and older still have dummies in their mouths and only IMO is that worse...I hate dummies.

When she gets a bit older I am sure that the sucking will reduce to bed times only and if it doesn't you can deal with kicking the habit then.

Just my thoughts.

 

[dee78]

Hi,

My jessica rep told me her son used to suck his thumb until she put nibble no more on it (for nail bitter from jessica). She put it on whilst he was sleeping and this stopped him. I got it for my wee girl who is 3 1/2 and bites her nails but its that disgusting that i have yet to put it on her and i have had it for about 1 year. its made from cactus plants and stays in your mouth all day. I tried it!! yuk.

Good luck

 

[estherlou]

My three year old and five year old both sucked their thumbs up until a few months ago, mavala do a formula to stop nail biting i painted this onto their fingers at night and after the third night my three year old stopped, not so for my 5 year old who started to suck her finger, so with her we had to paint every finger took 2 nights and she hasn't gone back since, definately worth breaking the habit before school and even playgroup as it was starting to affect speech and also behaviour especially with our eldest, good luck xx

 

[amirose]

I used to suck my thumb. My mum tried everything mustard, nail biter stuff (which I would never allow to dry!!!).

In the end she used to bandage it up. No joke. Shed bandage it all up and wrap it up with steri tape. I was quite an attention seeking kid and was quite proud of my bandage (couldn't get if off anyway she'd do it so good). It did eventually break the habit because I couldn't suck it all bandaged up!

Word of warning though, after I stopped sucking my thumb I developed a habit of pinching my labels in my clothing as a comfort thing, then after I grew out of that, I started biting my nails and then when I was older and stopped doing that - I started smoking!!!

I don't do any of these things now but my point is if its a comfort thing the chances are she will develop another habit.

hth
Ami

 

[beautyseeker]

My friend Sandra who is 44 and a legal exec still sucks her thumb in her sleep. She has a hard lump of skin on it from her teeth.

:lol:

 

[beautynails]

you're right, it is a comfort thing and it does help you out at times, they get tired and they still have that sucking reflex they are born with until they are around 7, so I have read.....too many toddlers and older still have dummies in their mouths and only IMO is that worse...I hate dummies.

When she gets a bit older I am sure that the sucking will reduce to bed times only and if it doesn't you can deal with kicking the habit then.

Just my thoughts.

At least you can through them away though (or send them to Santa).

I used to suck my thumb. My mum tried everything mustard, nail biter stuff (which I would never allow to dry!!!).

In the end she used to bandage it up. No joke. Shed bandage it all up and wrap it up with steri tape. I was quite an attention seeking kid and was quite proud of my bandage (couldn't get if off anyway she'd do it so good). It did eventually break the habit because I couldn't suck it all bandaged up!

Word of warning though, after I stopped sucking my thumb I developed a habit of pinching my labels in my clothing as a comfort thing, then after I grew out of that, I started biting my nails and then when I was older and stopped doing that - I started smoking!!!

I don't do any of these things now but my point is if its a comfort thing the chances are she will develop another habit.

hth
Ami

I did all of that with my daughter. None of it worked. I bandaged it up-she sucked the bandage; that was more disgusting then you can imagine.

I used the yukky nail biters polish- she didn't care.

I bribed her with lollipops. Surely a lollipop is better to suck on then a thumb? Apparently not.

I put long nails on her- She sucked on the nail.

As a last ditch attempt to get her of the thumb, I rubbed chilli on her thumb. Did someone say mean mother? She still sucked her thumb, but developed a taste for hot food.

She finally gave it up at about 10/11. SHe still tends to put it in her mouth though.

 

[olenabeauty]

Hi there
My son is 3 and up untill he was 2years and 3 months he used to suck on his thumb, i was very worried about it as I did the same when I was little( must be genetic comfort thing) and it altered my bite and I had to wear braces. Well I have to say my son was the biggest thumb sucker I have ever seen, it was never out of his mouth, no matter what I have tried nothing had worked.:cry: !!!! Up until the day when it got infected because it was always wet, the skin cracked on it, then he probably touched smth or may be just dirt got into it, anyways it got infected and it was probably very sore, because whenever he wanted to put it into his mouth he would stop and cry. We went to doctor, he prescribed local antibiotic, i had to put a bandage on it.
It was sore for 2-3 days and he could not put it into his mouth, i kept on repeating that this happened because he was sucking on it, he would really carefully listen to me, and even after infection cleared i still kept the bandage, kept on repeating to him that his thumb is sore whenever he was trying to put it in and IT REALLY STOPPED HIM FROM PUTTING IT IN (AS HE STILL REMEMBERED THE PAIN), he would get frustrated a lot, he did cry a lot because he could not do it, but this frustration lasted no longer than a week, and I have to say it was worth be patient about it.
He has never done it since.
I know it is hard work, and you really have to be consistent and persistent with it.

 

[gails nails]

I didn't get to the chemist today. I have a very busy day today, trying to keep her occupied all the time and not think about her thumb. Even made post man pat cakes. Not such a good idea as the sugar made her hyper. But managed to keep her thumb out of her mouth till 6.30pm, nearly bed time. I'm trying the "thumb is only for bed" for now. It wasn't as sore today. I'm going to book an appointment with the dr, as her right thumb is alot bigger than her left.

Gail

 

[Cathie!]

The sucking makes the thumb go like that, fatter and bigger and flatter.

I had a wee princess in my salon the other day.....got to the right thumb and said hey that's your sucking thumb....she was astounded and said how do you know that....anyways we had a wee chat and put some gems on the sucking thumb so she wouldn't suck it because it would spoil the effect.....I hope it worked....she was 10.

IMO, I don't think you should make it an issue, she's still a babe.

 

[Angelaznailz]

My sister sucked her thumb for years and as a result has a 'flat' thumb nail and the skin is still a bit more wrinkled than the other.
Her daughter now sucks her thumb and although only does it when she's tired, she's started doing it when she gets a row for something or doesn't get her own way. My sister has started to pull her thumb out of her mouth and tell her that it's only babies who do that , but now she's started biting her fingernails :grr:
My 2 kids had dummies and they both went to the Easter bunny in exchange for an egg !!!!!

 

[gails nails]

When to the Dr, yes her thumb is badly chapped and swollen. He gave me cream which is like liquid vaseline and special plasters. Which of course don't stick after I've rubbed the cream in. She is more or less out of the habbit of sucking her thumb during the day. 3 times I had to go to her last night, as she was waking herself up with the pain. Any way thanks for everyones ideas and stories. I'll let you know if she gets past sucking the thumb habit & hopefully won't start with bitting her nails habit.
Gail
:hug: