How do I get my 3 year old to stop sucking his thumb?

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Permalink Reply by A Cowboy's Wife on September 5, 2008 at 8:10pm

Hot sauce! BWAHAHAHAHA

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Permalink Reply by A Cowboy's Wife on September 5, 2008 at 8:10pm

Really, I don't know....sorry.

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Permalink Reply by Megan Calhoun on September 5, 2008 at 8:46pm

I've heard Jalepenos rubbed under the fingernails, so there may be some truth to that!

A Cowboy's Wife said:

Really, I don't know....sorry.

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Permalink Reply by Debbie on September 6, 2008 at 1:07pm

Oh, I never understood the thumb over pacifier choice. I always knew in the back of my mind that I could take away the binkie, but the thumb? Jail time for sure plus, he'd never be able to hitchhike. How about I ask my ning group of over 400 nannies if they have any advice? I bet we'll get quite a few tips.

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Permalink Reply by Megan Calhoun on September 6, 2008 at 1:12pm

Great! 400 nannies - Wow, what a resource! Thank you so much!

Debbie said:

Oh, I never understood the thumb over pacifier choice. I always knew in the back of my mind that I could take away the binkie, but the thumb? Jail time for sure plus, he'd never be able to hitchhike. How about I ask my ning group of over 400 nannies if they have any advice? I bet we'll get quite a few tips.

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Permalink Reply by leendaa on September 20, 2008 at 10:06am

yep put a sauce or salt in his her fingernail.. it weill stop him or her..

coz its works with my cousin ...

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie on March 20, 2009 at 9:17am

I am having the same problem. but it is a little different my son does not suck his thumb through out the day he olny sucks his thumb when he is in a deep sleep and it is not an every night thing. i dont know what to do. in the current living sitution i have my son sleeping in my room and the sucking of his thumb awakes me every night over and over and i dont know what to do. the down fall to all of this is my son loves spicy foods and putting hot sause on his thumb will do nothing. i tryed putting a glove on his hand and during the night he takes the glove off. at his fathers house he is aloud to suck his thumb and he is also aloud to at my mothers and his fathers moms. I dont know what to do i am lost i dont want this messing up his teeth. he also has cuts in his thumb from were his teeth cut in to him at night and when he wakes up he tells me it hurts. Please help me please this is my last hope!

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Permalink Reply by sarah on March 20, 2009 at 11:37am

Stephanie - I feel for you. If I were you, I would talk to others that helps you take care of your son and tell them that he is not allowed to suck his thumb. No discussion. If others allow him to do it, you'll never be successful at getting him to stop. As for him sucking his thumb at night, try looking into the "thumb guard". I don't know how good it is or if he'll be able to remove it himself but it's worth looking into. You can find it at onestepahead.com. A bit pricey but might work.

Meghan - my daughter doesn't suck her thumb but like to bite her finger. She won't stop until it hurts....crazy but true. I have used salt, Tabasco sauce as well as vinegar. I think the vinegar finally did it for her....she doesn't do it any more. Give it a try...maybe it will work for you. I have been told by others that it sounds cruel but I rather do something about it now and end it before she has bandages all over her fingers!! Just my thought.

Good luck ladies!

Stephanie said:

I am having the same problem. but it is a little different my son does not suck his thumb through out the day he olny sucks his thumb when he is in a deep sleep and it is not an every night thing. i dont know what to do. in the current living sitution i have my son sleeping in my room and the sucking of his thumb awakes me every night over and over and i dont know what to do. the down fall to all of this is my son loves spicy foods and putting hot sause on his thumb will do nothing. i tryed putting a glove on his hand and during the night he takes the glove off. at his fathers house he is aloud to suck his thumb and he is also aloud to at my mothers and his fathers moms. I dont know what to do i am lost i dont want this messing up his teeth. he also has cuts in his thumb from were his teeth cut in to him at night and when he wakes up he tells me it hurts. Please help me please this is my last hope!

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Permalink Reply by Nina on March 20, 2009 at 12:12pm

Hi Megan. I have the same trouble with my eldest. She sucks her thumb before and during sleep, and when she's upset. Even more often when she was an infant/toddler. One consolation is that currently she does this at home only, or in the car. We have likewise done everything to stop that habit because she's older. Salt and hot sauce secretly rubbed on didn't work for her - cried a bit but she liked it. Bummer! Lime wasn't that effective to her as well. Like you, we're a bit impatient already. But then the more she's pressured the more she clings on. At that age as your son is now we have consulted our pediatrician and some child caregivers, and most of them advised to just let it be as kids will eventually outgrow it between ages 4 & 5, if not earlier.

Just a footnote, thumb sucking I believe is better than a pacifier for better accessibility when he needs comfort (child experts even call it: self-pacifying; giving you less trouble) and hygiene too since pacifiers are dropped most of the time or lost.

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