Anyone have any other suggestions for breaking thumb suckers?

How serious a problem or worry is the thumb-sucking? If she's doing it in her sleep now, I wouldn't worry unless a dentist or orthadontist is saying it's causing problems

I'm going to share my embarrassing story. I was a thumb-sucker. I did it until I was 10. The Big 1-0. I kid you not. I'm 26 now, and still remember this. By that time, it was more of an occasional stress reliever than a constant thing. My parents tried EVERYTHING, even telling the teachers to get at me if they caught me. That only made me feel spite toward the teachers.

Frankly, what eventually caused me to stop it at that point was a combination of me realizing I was too old to be sucking my thumb even just for stress and forcing myself to stop and good ol' fashioned elementary school peer pressure and mocking.

Believe it or not, it did not damage my teeth.

That was probably a random tangent for you, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that it might be something she outgrows, especially if she's only doing it while she sleeps. Like you say, it's a security thing, and there's really nothing to do while she's unconscious. It could be merely a developmental thing that's showing itself unconscious.

Again, if your dentist/orthodontist has a problem, keep trying to stop her. Otherwise, let it go and be happy she only does it when she's asleep.

I sucked my thumb until I was about 8 years old. I never used a pacifier - always my thumb. What got me to stop was going to the orthodontist. They said that I had an underbite - meaning my two front teeth didn't come down and meet my bottom teeth when I closed my mouth - because I sucked my thumb. What worked for me is similar to what worked for Em's sister. My mom got some poster board and made a few months' worth of calenders. For every day/night that I didn't suck my thumb, I would get a sticker (like a really cool, pretty sticker!). Once I filled up a few months with stickers, I got to go buy a toy, or something like that. I don't remember what the reward was, but it did get me to stop sucking my thumb. Also, the fact that I knew my teeth would be messed up if I didn't stop!

My little sister sucked her thumb until she was 8. She would get those blisters too- we all felt awful for her.

Finally- my dad told her that if she could go the whole summer (or 3 months) without sucking her thumb, and let the blisters clear up- he'd give her $100. Needless to say she stopped sucking it- earned her $100 and by then...she had broken the habit.

I know, Bribery is frowned upon- but hell...if it works, right?

What 6 1/2 year old doesn't want $100- that's a fortune to her :)

At this point- I would tell her if she can quit until say...Halloween? Or another big even coming up that she can kind of count down to...

Person above me, it will mess up her teeth is the reason its a big deal. My only suggestion is the bitter tasting gloss you put over top of it. Sorry wish I could help more! I was a thumb sucker... I still sucked my thumb in kinder garden and my mom ended up bribing me to get me to stop, probably would not work if its unintentional though. Good luck!

nicely at the start do not ever soak his finger in vinegar (it takes his breath away) yet a baby makes use of sucking there thumb very a lot the same way an individual makes use of smoking even as below pressure or scared a baby will suck there thumb as a secure practices blanket as a way to communicate you fairly won't be able to do something only enable him be he's really addicted to sucking his thumb

Im Em's sis, not the one who sucked her thumb LOL. But I clearly remember when my dad paid our little sis 100 dollars to stop sucking her thumb..... I almost started just so he'd give me 100 bucks to stop...... (just kidding, I'm 11 years older than her, that woulda been silly) Anyway, my four year old sucks 2 fingers. He has stopped doing it while walking around, but still does it in the car, and while relaxing at night watching tv and in bed. I have gotten him really on board with trying to kick the habit. (I just quit smoking, so I often tell him how that was really hard for me, but I knew it was best). So we're working on it. I have accepted that it is just something that surely will take time, and when he is ready, he will stop. He really wants to stop too, but like anything else, you can lead a horse to water, but you cant make him drink!!! Good luck to her!!!

Maybe try exchanging one habit for another? Perhaps having a blanket or animal with her in bed (something soft) will give her something to hold besides her thumb.

Something else to consider, if she's getting upset over the thumb sucking than maybe down play breaking the habit for awhile -- can't fight anxiety with anxiety.

2 suggestions

1) I have a friend whose daughter was cured by painting the thumb with bitter aloes.

2) My own daughter we managed to convert to a dummy (pacifier) sucker (yes I know it looks awful) and then when the thumb habit was forgotten we kept 'losing' the dummy until the need was broken.

There's also a site which is relevant at

http://www.kidsbehaviour.co.uk/ChildrenAndThumbSuc...

6 and 1/2 is pretty late for conventinal measures.

discuss it with her first and make sure she is ok with it (I mean really ok) but a good way is to tie her had to her leg when she goes to bed. It will take about 3 nights.

Begin TD now.

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That is the type of attitude I meant when I said she needs to be ok with it. If you tie her hand to her leg, make sure there is enough give to move but not get it too her mouth, it will take 3 maybe 4 days. I promise.

You should definitely check out this parenting site called theskinnyscoop.com I know I have read something about weaning children off of sucking their thumbs before....hope it helps!