Help with thumbsucking issue!

stacynikki

DS is a thumb addict. To the extreme. Well his thumb looks awful. It's cracked, bleeding, just gross. DH noticed it this morning and bandaged it up. He took it off at school but DH redressed it when he picked him up. I am giving him a bath and just saw it for the first time. It's awful. I'm going to redress it after his bath. Has anyone's serious thumbsucker have to go cold turkey? How did it affect their sleep? I think this is why DS kept waking last night because his thumb hurt to much to suck back to sleep. I'm in for a few sleepless nights, huh?

Temp108743750006959

poor guy. I'm not against thumb sucking, but a bleeding thumb isn't good either. once it heals, you can try that bitter stuff on his thumb -- but I'd expect that he'll find another habit so be prepared (it's the toddler way!). Maybe reward him by not sucking by letting him pick up a special stuff animal to hold?

hopefulmom

I have a thumb sucker (he will use either one though).  Never had the problem with soreness, cracked, or bleeding thumb.  My DS only does it when he has his "lovey" with him (which is at night or nap and in the car if we have a longish trip...30 minutes or more).  He doesn't suck his thumb otherwise.  Anyway you could limit the amount of time your DS sucks it.  Does it do it at certain times of day or during a certain activity (watching TV) and can you give him something else to do instead (eat goldfish crackers, raisins, etc)?  Also, is he doing it when he has his "lovey"?  Can you limit the use of that?

At this point all you can do is just keep it wrapped with vaseline, etc. on it.  He might go to the other thumb...which is OK too.