My thumbsucker needs to stop

vherfurth1

Okay, so my son started sucking his thumb when he was about 4 months old. We thought it was cute and thank God he could self-soothe. He started only sucking his thumb when he was tired.  Now, he does it when he's tired, when he's just sitting in the car, if nothing is in his hand the thumb is in the mouth.  Now that he is nearly 17 months, his thumb is shaped differently than the other one, and it's callused and red all the time. I'm also afraid that his teeth are gonna' be messed up latter on in life. My question is, how do I get him to stop sucking his thumb?? I looked on the internet and there are all these glove looking things that cost lots of money.  Ridiculous!!  A glove!! Anyway, any advice? 

Laroogirl

A woman I work with said her dentist gave her an idea that worked for her 2 year old.  She told her son he could only suck his thumb if he was in his bedroom.  If she saw him doing it he had to stop or go in his room.  It worked for him and he is almost broke of doing it at all. I don't know how that would work for a younger child though.

My DS sucks his thumb too.  I am not going to worry about it yet. 

Alexandra*sMom

One of our playgroup friends sucks hers and she is 3.5.  She now only does it at bedtime.  Her teeth stick out more because of it.  Her dentist said as long as she quits by age 5 the teeth will move back to normal.

newportbride715

Unless it is going to permanently affect his teeth, I don't think I'd worry yet.