How can I get my 3 1/2 year old to stop sucking his thumb?

Go to your local $ store and get little toys for him. Keep them where he can't get to them. If he goes half a day without you catching him sucking his thumb let him pick one reward, or do a sticker chart and let him pick out a toy at the store or out of your stash.

You don't want to use any chemicals. My father in law put hot sauce on my brother in law's thumb and he felt really bad when he rubbed his eyes and started to scream because he got it in his eyes.

i used to suck my thumb a LOT!! i am now 13, and haven't for about 4 years now. my parents have tried all of that stuff (like the bad tasteing nail polish, etc.) and it never worked. what they did was take me to the orthodontest and i got this thing put on the top of my mouth (kind of like an expander) that had these prongs hanging down, so whenever i went to suck my thumb, it would poke my thumb. maybe call your dentist and have him recomend an ortho. hope this helps =)

there might be nothing you can do, your child might just have to grow out of it cause i sucked my 2 fingers until i started school but than as soon as i got home from school i put the 2 fingers back in my mouth but than by the time i was 9 i only sucked my fingers when i was really tired or sick than when i was 12 i stopped all together...but i do have an overbite and crooked teeth cause of my fingers being in my mouth

my little brother didnt stop until his first day of kindergarten. the other kids made fun of him and he never sucked it again.

Our folks tried everything, even some stuff the doc gave us that made his thumb taste bitter. He just sucked it off and kept going, until the other kids made fun of him that is. :)

i had the same problem wen i was young. my mother ould give me a spoon to suck on or ice. then she would put a bandade over my thumb. she also said to me that peoplke wont want to be by u if ur always sucking ur thumb

Buy that nail polish that tastes bad for nail biters. he'll stop right away.