1 Year Old & Finger Sucking

Hi! I actually had a very similar situation with my daughter's thumb. The way you describe her fingers is what my daughter's thumb looked like, but she was under one year. We put a bandaid on and taped it all around (it ended up being quite large!) so she couldn't suck on it. She mostly only sucked her thumb when sleeping so it caused a little problem with her falling asleep for a couple nights but she got over it in what seemed to me a relatively short time. I think you should continue what you're doing - maybe tape it up a little better (we used some first aid tape) and leave it that way - one or both fingers. Good luck!

My 14 month old is doing the same thing. Ever since she got teeth in, her thumb looks like it's gone through a cheese grater during the night.

This past weekend we were busier than normal and I noticed her sucking her thumb while playing - something she never has done. We made a game of "give me that thumb" and she'd giggle and eventually quit, but then i'd see her biting her wrist or her hand instead of her thumb. Hopefull the advice given by everyone else will stop them from doing this!! It has to be painful!

Ok I got two that sucks the thumb. One of them is 3 now. I don't know how to stop it but I know that top of her tumb does gets a bumb and does pull but really nothing else. I know the only time she does it is when she is sleepy or scared. So i don't really know what to say to you but it is harder than getting the passy to go away. but i got 5 little ones and only two of mine does this and i did try to give passy when they was little but didn't work. but i hope someone does help you out.

I guess I wouldn't worry about it unless the skin is actually broken and she is bleeding. She should be ok unless there seems to be a sign of infection. I would be more worried about her getting the band aid off and choking. She is little yet and too early I think to wean from sucking her fingers.

Good Luck

I can't say that I have children, but I am a new graduate from nursing school and just came across a little fact that may put you at ease. Generally thumb/finger sucking resolves itself by 20 months. From what I have read, it is better to try and let these things take their course. This will alleviate frustration for both mom and child when trying to address these issues.

Also, my younger sister also sucked her index finger and had the same callous effect on her finger. My mom (also a nurse) said she stopped sucking on her finger when she was about 2, and that she didn't bug her about it because of the fits she would throw. Good luck to you!
D.

Hi S.! Both of my children sucked their middle and ring fingers only not upside down. They still developed callouses and would sometimes break open and bleed. By the time they turned 4 I couldn't take it anymore. Because of the finger sucking they began to get sick more often even though we washed our hands often. My son was a breeze to get him to stop. My husband and I promised him a toy if he could stop doing it for 4 days and nights. The first night my husband sat on the couch with him before bed and held his hands for a while until he was almost asleep. He did great. My daughter was another story. We made the same toy deal with her. It was such a natural thing for her that she would do it without thinking and when we would gently point it out to her she would cry because she didn't want to do it but she couldn't help it. We eventually put "NAIL BITER" on her fingers. The one I have is from years back when I wanted to stop biting my nails so I'm not sure where they might still sell it. It has a very bitter taste to it that made my daughter not want to put her fingers in her mouth. The one I have is made by Sally Hansen and I found it by the nail polishes. It worked for me and my daughter. Good luck!
S.

I have a 4 1/2 year old that sucks his thumb. I have never been too concerned about it as it is something they will eventually give up. Like many issues - you got to pick your battles, if this really bothers you then fight it. My inlaws come up about every 4-6 weeks and mess w/my son about him sucking his thumb and I usually comment that he is fine - basically leave him alone. Sometimes they have an intense need to suck. At this stage the only thing that I request is that if you have gum you can't suck your thumb so if I don't want him sucking his thumb I give him gum :). I figure in kindergarten he will see lots of the kids aren't doing it and give it up.

My almost 6 month old also sucks his thumb and I too am ok w/it - and quite oddly my 22 month old sees my older son sucking his thumb and will suck hers but I think she just does it to be like him, again I don't make a scene out of it b/c it isn't behavior that I want to encourage. Good luck - as with everything it is a phase - just depends on how we react to how long they take to move through it.

Oh my, you described my daughter to a tee with the sucking pattern. Same hand, fingers and direction. She is now 27 months and we are not sure what to do either. Her top teeth have come in crooked because of it but I keep saying she'll stop before she gets her permanent ones (I hope). I should have tried something sooner, but she used it to self soothe. She also has a favorite blanket that she picks stitching off of, so both hands are occupied. She is the only one of three who had any soothing technique. Good luck. I may try the band aid trick? :)

As the mother of a former 6 y/o thumb sucker, I say if you can handle her being mad at you for a few days or even a week or so, then leave the band aid on. It may just be what she needs to help her stop. Also, you can try to replace the sucking with a special toy or blankie to help her soothe herself. I know these things can be a pain too, but its better than a thumb sucking kindergardener...right? Good luck, I know this is a tough battle, I've been there.