Thumbsucking - Columbus,OH

Maybe try sticking a band-aid on his thumb. He probably doesn't even realize he does it but if you give him a reminder in the moment such as a band-aid he may stop. Good luck Dawn!

I know they can put a bar across the top of his mouth that will cause his thumb to hurt if he won't quit on his own. You can put Tabasco or red pepper under his nail, the taste is bad and they don't want it in their mouth. I know there is something you can get at the pharmacy to help.
P. R

our dentist told us to put socks on DD's hand at bedtime, which thankfully was the only time she sucked her thumb, becaue it was really messing up her teeth. but they ahve to want tos top enough to keep them on, also they do make stuff that goes on the nails to make the fingers taste bad that can work.

I'd like to see the advice you get! My daughter is 7, in first grade, and still sucks it at night. I also have a 15 month old that sucks her thumb! I know your frustration.

just know he's not the only one. mine turns 6 in october and still does it. i don't want to put pressure on my son because i know that could make him do it more often. i don't know if it would affect his teeth, because probably at his age he isn't doing it often, right? at this age, their baby teeth start to drift away from each other, making gaps or spaces, as their mouths are growing. unless he has teeth jutting outward that didn't used to be that way, i would say any changes you are seeing in his teeth are normal.
don't worry, i think we may be surprised how quickly it stops when a classmate says something to them in kindergarten.

Peer pressure may be the best cure. My pediatrician said that a child can't be "made" to stop, but can be influenced. He also stated it may continue at home, but with maturity they learn other ways to cope with what's causing the desire to suck the thumb. My children were not thumb suckers, but my brother and sister were. Shortly after they started school, it began to decrease. A. N.

I sucked my thumb until I was 6 and I really messed up my teeth. My ped. dentist suggested to my parents an appliance for the roof of my mouth that had spikes so it was impossible to suck my thumb. I had it in for a while (don't remember exactly how long) and it stopped me from sucking my thumb. Another plus, it straightened up my teeth PERFECTLY!! My parents were VERY happy about that because it was MUCH cheaper than braces!

My 9 year old just stopped sucking his thumb on his own. The dentist did say something to him, but wasn't hard on him. I tried minimizing it, not letting him suck his thumb in the car, etc. Only at home. Then after time passed, I asked him to try only doing it at bedtime. He never ever did it at school or at friend's houses. And now it's not a problem anymore. I didn't want to put too much pressure on him to stop, making it worse from insecurity.

I also understand your concern, but agree with those that say he'll work it out on his own. My son (now 25 & not a thumbsucker!) was at least 10 before he stopped. But that's not what I remember about him. I believe these kids need that comfort, something to help them through stressful times, security...whatever 'their' reason is. I don't think they can stop until they are ready. Some kids do find that once they start school there are more interesting things to do and they need both hands.
I would just tell the doctor-yes he's still sucking his thumb
we're working on it and let it drop. there are other things that can affect your teeth, or you can just have bad teeth. Yes, he "may" need braces, but maybe not. I sucked my thumb until I was 7 and no braces. My son had braces, but only on the top teeth. None of my other kids sucked their thumbs, yet one still needed braces. My now-15 year old would hardly ever brush his teeth, and now does, but never with toothpaste (he doesn't like the texture/flavor/feeling?)yet only 1-2 cavities. His next older brother's teeth erupt with pits that need to be filled as soon as they are completely in. and he brushes way more. so I'm saying---you just never know--I think how a child feels about him/herself and whether they feel safe and secure is more important than will they need braces later on.
Good Luck

I don't have any good suggestions...neither one of my children were thumb suckers or took the binki. :)

However, I've seen thumb guards in one of my magazines that you put right over his thumbs. They say it works.

A friend of mine would have her girls wear socks or gloves over their hands when they were at home to get them to stop. At night, she would put a long sleeved shirt of their dad's on the girls and tie or sew the sleev ends shut so during their sleep they couldn't reach their thumb to suck it.

I hope this helps.
Good luck!
T.

Hi Dawn, I have said this before but the more you talk about it the more it will draw it to his attention. I was well past 10 or maybe even more when I quit sucking my thumb. Looking back I think the thumb is like my little grand -daughter carrying around her blanki. It is a tiny velvet piece of cloth but it makes her feel secure. She will give it up someday and so will your son give up his tumb. Don't push him or it may cause other problems. Good luck K.