My 19 month old son sucks his thumbs, one more than the other. The one he spends more time on is getting all red and cracked. I'm worried about this getting out of hand and being painful for him. His thumb just looks awful. Has anyone else ever encountered this problem? What should I do? Do I try and bandage it so it can heal or take him to the doctor or just let it work itself out? Any advice is helpful! Thanks:)
I tried bandaging his thumb twice and each managed to stay on for about 45 minutes until he succeeded in tearing them off. Seemed to do the trick though. While his thumb is not completely healed, it's well on it's way and he's content with his other thumb. I'm not worried about making him stop, he'll do that when he's ready. Thanks everyone:)
Hi L.,
I can offer you the solution that my mom used on me. You will have to stand by to make sure that his finger does not rub his eyes though. Simply put some habenero, or hot pepper sauce on the finger. This should work within a couple of tries. Also, when he puts his hot sauce finger in his mouth tell him "No more thumb in mouth"!
Best wishes,
C.
Mom of three, grandma of 2
My 14 month old does the same thing. Refuses to suck the other, even when the one that he does suck has gotten infected. His Doctor said that we could bandage it through the rough part, but all in all it's not that big of a deal right now. He has gotten a couple of sores, and I have put some bandades on it, and just make sure that I change it regularly and it heals up nicely with aloe or neosporin. I couldn't wrap his whole hand up, I just felt like that was cruel. He got upset enough with the bandades. Good luck, and if you find something that works better, let me know.
Thanks,
B. T.
My little sister sucked her thumb until she was 3. My Mom put this stuff on her them that was especially made to stop thumb sucking. This stuff tasted horrible, really bitter. She also tried a little hot sauce. Of course they don't want to taste the nasty flavors on their thumbs but it is a habbit, she eventually stopped. Good luck!
my three year old son is a thumbsucker and our pediatrician, family dr. and dentist have all said he'll stop when he's ready. he's in preschool and already sucks on his thumb less than he did before, so i'm not too worried about it. good luck!
Hi L.
Try giving him something else to suck on, like a teething toy or something thats hard plastic that can't be swallowed. Those round ring thing would work too. You have to replace it with another habit you can live with. After awhile, you can get rid of that and move him on tho something else. My daughter (age 13) just got braces, and maybe a root canel and or oral sursery. She was sucking her thumb from a few days old (left hand) till she was 7 or 8. I never had the heart to put hot sauce or anything like that on her thumb. So, the longer he sucking the more the dental work later. Hope this helps.
I was a thumbsucker until the age of 8 and I remember the frustration of trying to quit...both for me and my Mom. I can remember her putting something bitter on my thumb and then putting a bandage on it.
There is a new product available now...it's called Stopzit and safe for use on the child's thumb.
There is a good website, http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/50/10...
and it explains remedies that can be used as well as some reasons why kids continue thumb sucking.
Good luck...
W. Q
I would ask your doctor what would be best for the healing process. Luckily, my 2 year old is a "switch hitter". I spoke with her doctor and she said there is no reason to try to stop her thumbsucking. She said the dental problems people are always talking about do not necessarily happen to thumbsuckers. The doctor said that when she reaches school age that is when she will stop because kids will tease her and that will make her stop. I sucked my left thumb until I was 8 (didn't suck it in school, only to sleep). I have perfect teeth and no ill effects of sucking on my thumb. Good luck.
I have heard of people putting different things on the child's thumb (that taste bad), if you need ideas, let me know! There is a guard thing, check out this site! http://www.onestepahead.com/product/118/984/118.html
There are other things to look at there too, but I figured I would help and show you that page! Good luck!
One of my cousins sucks her thumb, 6 years old, and she no longer has a thumb nail on that one! It is so yucky! Thumb sucking can be so hard on their teeth as well as their thumb! Good luck again!
