Stooping thumb sucking

[redcrx]

The littlest CRX is a thumb sucker and I need to get her to stop.
anyone got any ideas on how?
Ive tried the nail stuff, which doesnt seem to work
ive also tried putting plasters on her thumb but those go straight away,
She mainly does it when tired and when asleep but its going to cause problems as she gets older.

Dummies are so much easier to get rid of :(

[redcrx]

stooping? lol

[McMouse]

Tell her to stand up straight.

[andy-hughes]

Why do you need to get her to stop?

Thumb sucking is a comfort mechanism which children use when they are tired - it gives them security, and unlike a dummy, thumbs are portable and never getr lost!

I sucked my thumb as a child, and in common with all my generation (and your little CRX) I arrived at school walking upright, able to speak, using a toilet, and not sucking my thumb.

She will grow out of it when she is ready - let nature take its course.

[redcrx]

lol thanks MM, i knew someone would say something :)

[DEN53]

I was a thumb sucker, red - I eventually just grew out of it. My Grandad used to say, you will suck all the goodness out of it and it with wither and die. I still did it though.

[anneasquith]

when you say problem in the future, do you mean her teeth red ? some children do grow out of it, did she start sucking when her dummy was taken away ?

[milly143]

I was a major thumb sucker until my Grandma got involved. She told me it would shrink if I kept sucking it and I fell for it. Every now and then she would catch me sucking it and really tell me off. It worked eventually.

[micmak]

My late brother was a thumb sucker. Even as an adult as soon as he went to sleep he put his thumb in his mouth. He tried all sorts to stop it but never did.

[Answerprancer]

This nice bedtime story should do the trick !
http://www.gutenberg....f_Little_Suck-a-Thumb

[China Doll]

I grew out of it when I was 11, why does she need to stop? It didn't do anything to make my teeth wonky if that's what you're thinking.

[redcrx]

i was a thumb sucker myself (now have awfully crooked teath) as was her dad until our teen so Im not sure id like to wait for her to get to that sort of age before giving it up.
Dentist has said today that we need to try and get her to stop as it will soon get to point where the next teeth wont come through straight and, obviously, i would like to spare her the ordeal of any dental work in the future.
That said, i want to find a way in which she stops but isnt upset by it.

[Bbbananas]

I don't think there's any harm in thumb sucking - unless it's damaging or deforming her teeth.

I will not say at what age I stopped sucking mine, and it never did me any harm. It's a comfort thing as well as a habit - and I'd rather see a child with a thumb in its mouth any day than a horrid dummy.

[micmak]

Love it Prancer. lol. Not a good idea though

[mccfluff]

having a brace fitted at 11 stopped me :-(

[redcrx]

she didnt have a dummy, Anne, that was my lad. He happily gave that up at 2.5 when he swapped it for his Xmas presents so santa could give it to another child.

[redcrx]

pmsl. Prancer, i like that, but i have enough problems chasing bunnies out of her room at 3am, i dont want to be chasing a scissor wielding thumb cutter

[anneasquith]

well i understand your concern red. now you say what the dentist advises, all i can think of is some sort of diversion or reward scheme, but very difficult as she does it when sleeping. im sure you have access to some sites where you may get some advice from other parents. keep us informed... anne

[Answerprancer]

I know - it's gross isn't it. I lived in Germany when I was little, my sister and I were given a copy of Struwwelpeter by our house helper. The pages were cardboard which gives you an idea of the agegroup it was aimed at - no wonder they formed the 3rd Reich ;-)

[redcrx]

terrifying, i darent read any more of them lol

Anne, will let you know how i get on. Most are agreeing i should leave her but i hate my teeth (a phobia of dentists doesnt help) and would hate for her to be same :(

[andy-hughes]

I'm not at all sure that crooked teeth and thumb-sucking are linked.

If you look at the number of individuals with crooked or splayed teeth - a minority - compared with all the children who suck their thumbs, or a dummy - the majority - then I would suggest that the link is tenuous at best.

Modern orthodontics are vastly improved from our childhood - a variety of braces worn for a relatively short time will ensure she has any potential malforamtions corrected in good time.