What to do About Thumb Sucking

You would be surprised at how big of a problem thumb sucking actually is and how difficult the habit is to break.  I was a thumb sucker as a child.  I remember my mom trying anything she could think of; socks on my hand, horrible tasting applications and wrapping bandaids around my thumbs.  Nothing worked.  As I got older I wanted to stop this habit too.  As embarrassing as it is even though I was around eleven or twelve and I did not suck my thumb at anytime during the day, I would wake up every morning with my thumb in my mouth.  WEIRD!

Finally at age twelve I went to the orthodontist to be fitted for braces.  The orthodontist threatened me with a device that would pinch my thumb if I continued this terrible habit.  That was the trick!  I was so scared of my thumb getting pinched I never sucked my thumb again.

So you have a little one who is a thumb sucker but is years away from an orthodontist visit.  What can you do to break the habit?

  1. Remember that thumb sucking is your child’s way of soothing herself and relaxing. Help her find new ways for self soothing or relaxing.
  2. Praise her when she is not sucking her thumb instead of reprimanding her when she does.  Remind her how grown up she is becoming and make her think it is her idea to stop the thumb sucking habit.
  3. Try reminding your child of the habit by having your child wear socks on her hands or applying bitter medication prescribed by your pediatrician.
  4. Help her realize when she puts her thumb in her mouth.  Come up with a special gesture that is between the two of you instead of calling her out.
  5. Use the authority of the pediatrician or dentist.  Sometimes a talk from one or the other or both can do wonders.

Robin Greene has been a Kindergarten teacher for about six years and is about to start a new journey in her working career.  Robin enjoys spending time with her children and freelance writing for mybabyclothes.com.  Your little ones will love the stylish clothes, beautiful tutus, sweet headbands and snazzy hats.

Photo courtesy of krystalpitts1

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