4 Year Old Sucking Fingers -- Problem?

Hi E.,
My oldest son use to suck his index finger and I believe it's because I took his pacifier too soon. I was also worried about his teeth as his baby teeth were crooked because of this. I think he stopped sucking it when he was around 6 - 6 1/2.... and he would never let anyone see him as he only sucked them when he was sleepy.
I wouldn't worry about it she is only 4. He eventually stopped and his permanent teeth are fine.

Try giving her cheerios when she does this and maybe it will deter her from doing it at least when she is bored.

M.

Children who tend to suck fingers and thumb turn to be intelligent adults. As they become older most grow out of it and only do it when they are comfortable with their surroundings and the people that are with them.

If you want to break the habit, using something that is bitter on the fingers may work, but don't make it a negative experience - there usually is a need for the child that has this habit.

E.,
Not to worry. In my experience, the problem will likely resolve itself if for no other reason then peer pressure ... eventually.
My second daughter refused to give up her pacifier until she was almost 5 years old. I was afraid she'd still have it when she started school. It bothered me so much, that when my third daughter was born, I vowed I'd never let her get started using a pacifier. I held my ground. She didn't get a pacifier. So, she found her own ... her thumb. I realized that I hadn't thought that one through very well. You can take a pacifier away. Not true with a thumb.
Even when my youngest daughter became motivated to stop thumb sucking, she couldn't stop herself from doing it in her sleep -- all the time! By the time her permanent front teeth came in, she could actually suck her thumb - THROUGH her teeth -- with her jaw in a closed bite position. The dentist said she'd need braces.
She was finally able to give up the night time thumb sucking about the time she started Jr. High school. Within a few months, her upper front teeth dropped down to a normal position. There is just the slightest hint of a curve there. You wouldn't even notice if you weren't looking for it. She has the most beautiful teeth out of all 5 of my children.
I also have 2 teenage nieces who sucked their two middle fingers. One still does (though only around her closest girl friends!). They both have beautiful teeth. So, you can probably relax. There are so many other issues you'll have to tackle -- this one, you can let go! : )

Best of Luck,
C.

Finger sucking can be difficult to stop and there are the traditional remedies like lemon juice or tobasco sauce on them can make them unappealing. But for a dentist to say she will need braces at this early age is a little strange. Braces are usally determined by how the perminate teeth come in not the baby teeth. I might look into a different point of view.

My son does this when he's tired too. Since that't the case I look over and sincerely say, "Oh your sucking your thumb. You must be tired. Let's put you to bed." (Unless it's actual bedtime) Saying this will get him to realize what he's doing and he takes his thumb out. It makes him more aware. I don't stress about it since it's just when he's tired. About the braces. There's a decent chance your child would need braces anyway. It seems like most people do if they want that perfect look.

It will impact her teeth. She may stop she may not. Try putting something very distasteful on those two fingers. You'd be surprised!

I sucked my thumb until I was probably 10 years old. Now I didnt do it in public, it was a comfort thing at night to put me to sleep. My parents tried everything under the sun to get me to stop. They put socks on my hands, put nail bitter on my thumb (it tastes really really bad) but I always found a way around it. I did need braces, but that wasn't a big deal, most kids these days need them anyways...I guess what I am trying to say, is you can try all the tricks to get her to stop, but it may just stop when she is ready for it to stop. My parents bribed my sister with a toy she really wanted to stop using her pacifire, and that worked, but it didnt work with me. She is only four, so I would give it some time. Maybe try getting her a new stuffed animal or some other comfort toy to replace he thumbs with. Overall though, she will stop when she wants to...I eventually did.

I would try the Thumb guard on her. Even though it's not her thumb she is sucking, they do have one that fits over her fingers. Go to thumbguard.com or Google it and look into it. It's pricey (around $80) but probably cheaper than getting braces etc! My 2 yr old (at the time) used it and within a week she was over her habit. I could not believe it. I recommend it to everyone with the same problem. good luck. Here is one of the websites that carry it. http://www.leapsandbounds.com/catalog/product.jsp?product...

Your dentist probably means she will need braces no matter what. I worked as a dental assistant for many years in a pediatric office. She will probably give it up when she starts school and if by the time her permanent teeth come in (upper front teeth around ages 6 1/2-7 1/2) That's when you start to be a little concerned that some damage will be done. If she is a strong finger sucker. I wouldn't worry about it until then.

I have a son who sucks his thumb when tired and when going to sleep, but it's out when asleep and he's not real strong with it. Some kids do it so much or are very strong suckers that even their baby teeth are moved because of it. I'm not worried about his yet since his teeth haven't moved and he doesn't have his upper permanent teeth yet.

When she is older and still has the habit there are things an Orthodontist can do or a pediatric dentist can do...by making an appliance to go into the mouth that will prevent them from sucking.

I would say....she's 4 let her have it and not worry about it just yet...

My 2 cents.:-)

T.

A little about me:
Stay at home mom to a 9 and 6 year old boys.

she prbablwil out grow it by the time school starts and the teacher keeps telling her to get her fingers out of her mouth because of germs. What about gum right now? Something else to help the oral needs?

Wow this brings back wonderful memories! My 26 year old did the same thing from birth, it was too cute but I was always determined, at least after 2yrs to get her to stop. The main reason was future braces. My dentist told me not to worry because fingers were a lot less of a problem than the thumb so I eased up & sure enough she has beautiful teeth. Of course so does my 23 year old thumb sucker. My 15 year old sucked her thumb too no problem. I think it may have more to do with heredity than anything. I did the whole bitter finger thing, she scrunched up her face & licked it off & kept on sucking. I believe it is a form of self comforting that is beneficial. Also she graduated from high school with a 4.25 & college with honors. No complaints here.

I sucked mine for years...never needed braces. My brother sucked his...needed a retainer, but not because of the sucking. My daughter sucked hers...doesn't need braces. She WILL stop eventually, and once she does, her teeth will still have time to readjust. That, and adult teeth and baby teeth don't necessarily end up exactly the same. Don't worry until you have to!

E.,
We may be in for the same problem in a couple of years as my 2 year old daughter also sucks 2 of her fingers. There is a popular pediatric dentist here in Livermore, Dr. Solomon (www.livermorekidsdentist.com) and I copied this from his website about thumb sucking assuming it is at least similar to finger sucking:
Thumb Sucking
Sucking is a natural reflex that relaxes and comforts babies and toddlers. Children usually cease thumb sucking when the permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Typically children stop between the ages of two and four years. Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of primary teeth can cause improper growth of the mouth and misalignment of the teeth. If you notice prolonged and/or vigorous thumb sucking behavior in your child, talk to your dentists.

Here are some ways help your child outgrow thumb sucking:
Don’t scold a child when they exhibit thumb sucking behavior; instead, praise them when they don’t thumb suck.
Focus on eliminating the cause of anxiety—thumb sucking is a comfort device that helps children cope with stress or discomfort.
Praise them when they refrain from the habit during difficult periods.
Place a bandage on the thumb or a sock on their hand at night.
Hope that helps,
C.

Hi E.!

Ahhhh...how sweet! Even when they begin to get "big", they still show how pure they are don't they?

My opinion is pretty simple. I believe if she needs braces anyway, then DON'T let this be why you take this security away from her. HOWEVER, she's getting to the age where she will start Kindergarten soon, and your concern should be if she were to do it in class. Most kids "shy away" from doing things like this during school time, but you can help her early on.

I would suggest something simple. Whenever you see her starting to suck her fingers, then sweetly tell her "oh honey, you must be tired after playing outside, why don't you go lay in your room for a couple of minutes"..

If you begin to keep the "sucking" in her room only, then she will begin to NOT do it outside of her room. Especially because it's a "sleepy thing" anyway.

We did this with our son's pacifier....a firm addiction! Anyway, it worked. I never let him think he was wrong by wanting it. I always said, "sure you can have your pacifier, just go in your room with it, because it means you're tired ,blah, blah, blah"....He eventually got too "busy" to take the time to go to his room for it. It tapered off on it's own....thank goodness :o)

Anyway, I hope this helps you in some way.

:o) N.

Her teeth will be fine. Mine are perfect and I sucked my thumb till I was 5. However, if you want the behaviour to stop, one good way is to ask her gently to suck her fingers alone in her bedroom. Not as a punishment, mind you, but by explaining to her that she is tired and needs a bit of time to herself. It has worked for other parents I know... good luck.
K. in EC

So I am not a dentist but I can tell you from my own personal (embarassing) experience, that I sucked my thumb until I was about 9 years old!!! After the age of 5, it was at night when I slept but nonetheless.....9!!! And I can proudly say that I have never needed braces and have actually been told by several dentists that I have great teeth. It seems to me that a lot of whether or not your child will need braces lies in hereditary factors....much like medical issues. As for when she will stop and should you help her try to stop, I have been told that no one has ever seen anyone in college sucking their thumb (or 2 middle fingers) :) Be happy your sweet little girl knows how to comfort herself.....many 4-year-olds don't know how. Best of luck!

You don't need to break this habit. It's a healthy and normal self-soothing technique. I definitely agree with your pediatrician that it will resolve by itself. Especially if you don't make a big issue of it and thus create a problem where there isn't one.

Hi E.. Finger sucking is normal in very young children (2 yrs and under) but at age 4, their is a need to put a stop to the habit. Here's a website that may help you in breaking your daughter's finger sucking habit. It is important that you break this habit because it will develop dental problems as well as speech problems. You may also try placing something awful tasting on her fingers to deter her from sucking them- i.e. lemon juice, tabasco sauce, etc. Good luck! http://www.orthodontics.org/thumb.htm

Did you ask this one already? Someone else had this exact question within the past month. Anyway you can try to break the habit if you want (I have no great ideas for this) but if she's really attached to it you might want to just let her do it. All my kids needed braces no matter what they did or didn't do.

I'd like to hear the solutions offered because my 7-month-old daughter sucks those two middle fingers and has her whole life and does it A LOT! So, I'd like to plan for the future!