6.5 years old, Thumbsucking.

Both of my older two children suck their thumbs. (The baby somehow liked sucking his three middle fingers better, go figure.) I sucked my thumb until I was 6 or 7 and just stopped on my own. DS 1 shows no signs of letting up. DH's new idea is to punish him for thumbsucking by timeouts. If he catches DS 1 sucking his thumb, DS 1 is supposed to go into time out. I have yet to see improvement, so I am skeptical to say the least. I suppose the main worry is first his permanent teeth, which are coming in, and that other kids will make fun of him.

How long would you tolerate the thumbsucking? BTDT, anyone?

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

My 30-year old brother (secretly) still sucks his thumb...my parents tried everything...

[Pollyanna]

I wouldn't punish a child for sucking their thumb, I can guarantee that will not help the situation plus you will create anxiety. All of our girls are/were thumb suckers (the boys took pacis, go figure). DD1 stopped at about 7, DD2 is nine and she just stopped about a year ago (she was only sucking at night in her sleep and it was always around times where she was anxious about something), DD3 will be three in January and is happily sucking her thumb. Our dentist says not to worry about it until they are getting adult teeth and even then it won't necessarily effect the teeth. This has been true as DD1 will not need braces and DD2 may need some work but due to crowding not thumb sucking. My advice is to encourage him to stop, give him rewards when he is trying and making progress, then don't worry he will stop before high school graduation. I also find that typically they stop sucking their thumb at school first so as not to be teased.

[Phoebe]

My 8 year old sucks her index and middle fingers and has a stuffed baby that she uses to soothe herself. Our dentist also says to not worry until adult teeth come in. I wouldn't punish for thumb sucking. He could do it without realizing it.

[peggyfromwastate]

Ds7 sucks his thumb at night. I think it's pretty much a reflexive action. The dentist has already said he will need orthodontics for it eventually. Shrug. Whatevs. My dd15 had braces when she was in 5th grade and she never took a binki or sucked her thumb ever.

They sell thumb helmets that you put on the hand and will keep the thumb from the mouth. Not sure if you're interested in that. I'm not, but my dentist is lol. He can wear it.

My ds stopped sucking his thumb during the day in kindergarten mostly. He would suck his thumb at home, to relax. But by 1st grade he pretty much only sucked his thumb at night. Now he doesn't want to suck his thumb, he actively tries not to, but it just goes into his mouth when he's asleep. If he wants the thumb helmet at night, we will get it for him. Otherwise, I am not convinced its a huge deal.

[DCJenn]

7.5 year old here who sucks his fingers- it's reflexive at this point. We just remind him when we see him do it. He's done it since he lived in Russia so it's a hard habit to break. Our dentist isn't worried and he DOES have permanent teeth.

We had one of those finger braces and it just made him anxious and added another battle to the day.

We don't punish for it- just reminders to stop. For our kid, it would have amped up the anxiety.

J.

[peggyfromwastate]

7.5 year old here who sucks his fingers- it's reflexive at this point. We just remind him when we see him do it. He's done it since he lived in Russia so it's a hard habit to break. Our dentist isn't worried and he DOES have permanent teeth.

We had one of those finger braces and it just made him anxious and added another battle to the day.

We don't punish for it- just reminders to stop. For our kid, it would have amped up the anxiety.

J.

That's good to know about the brace thing jenn. I can totally see this type of device causing that kind of reaction. My Peds dentist is already after me to get dd3 to stop using a paci. Really? She only uses it to help fall asleep. I'm glad we r moving otherwise I'd have to switch dentists over this issue.

We have had success having ds go to his room to suck his thumb... We used that technique when he was 6 or so. That was because he really wanted to quit due to social stigma issues at school. I think the kid has to be in board for any of this to work though.

[Tenacious_D]

My 30-year old brother (secretly) still sucks his thumb...my parents tried everything...

I didn't stop until high school and I was wearing braces. My high school friends got me to stop. Nip it in the bud if you can.

That's good to know about the brace thing jenn. I can totally see this type of device causing that kind of reaction. My Peds dentist is already after me to get dd3 to stop using a paci. Really? She only uses it to help fall asleep. I'm glad we r moving otherwise I'd have to switch dentists over this issue.

We have had success having ds go to his room to suck his thumb... We used that technique when he was 6 or so. That was because he really wanted to quit due to social stigma issues at school. I think the kid has to be in board for any of this to work though.

I like this idea. It doesn't seem to so punitive. Just, if you want to suck your thumb, that's something you have to do in your room.

[peggyfromwastate]

Yes, we said something like this:

" sometimes you feel stressed and want to suck your thumb. We understand, but because of nasty germs, you need to wash your hands before you can suck your thumb. Then, you may go to your room to suck your thumb and relax. when you are ready come out, wash your hands again. We really don't want you to get sick, or to get others sick, so washing your hands is very important."

Good luck... Every kid is different!