Thumb sucking

[hj1981]

Any tips on how to help stop DD2 from thumb sucking? She only does it at bed time or when she is upset, but it has given her a big callous on her thumb and think it is time for her to try stopping!

[Olive]

To stop DD1 at 2.5yrs I used sports tape on her thumb, she couldn't removed it and wasn't nice to suck, took a few days but did work

[hj1981]

Thanks Olive, will give it a try

[Eenee]

DD sucks her thumb allll the time so might have to give this a go as it is affecting her teeth.

[hj1981]

Thats one of the reasons why i want her to stop Eenee

[Olive]

Same reason we stopped DD1, she has some dental issues because of it (and I'm a dental nurse )

[wysiwyg]

DD is a thumb sucker it isn't affecting her teeth according to dentist and she never gets blisters on it so maybe she doesn't suck that hard. She also is old enough to talk about it and is giving up when she is four she says or is using the icky tasting stuff she also says. My sister, brother and DH all sucked thumb until much older than she is and have no teeth issues so I am happy with this approach. If dentist was concerned then I might do it differently. Like most things I am sure teeth are due to a combination of things including genetics, mouth shape etc and thumb sucking doesn't always equate to bad teeth, just like you can have teeth problems no matter how diligent you are about dental hygeine and thumb sucking etc.

I wouldn't worry about the chemical in the stop biting stuff - it is perfectly safe (at least it has been designed and tested to go in the mouth unlike chemicals in the adhesive on sports tape, which I am sure is also safe but obviously has not bern tested in same fashion) there may even be natural alternatives - the stuff tastes like ear wax and is revolting - my friend at school used to put it on her pens to stop me from biting them.

I do know that some types are not suitable for under 3's as they say they can get used to the taste so it won't be effective. (Some of the things toddlers put in there mouths and don't object to I can well believe that)

[HotI]

Could you try offering something good when she stops? A mate had luck getting rid of a dummy by offering nail polish when she stopped sucking the dummy.

[Eenee]

I still worry about chemicals in biting stuff as there are chemicals in foods I don't let my kids have either that have been deemed suitable to consume :/

[hj1981]

Could you try offering something good when she stops? A mate had luck getting rid of a dummy by offering nail polish when she stopped sucking the dummy.

I am going to try bribery , its hard when she does it most at night, cause i can't remind her not to do it! but you see the blisters on her thumb come morning and you know she has been sucking :-/

[Olive]

Can you go in at night and tape her thumb??