This doesn't seem cruel, does it?

CleoKitty

I'm thinking of ordering two of these for dd. She's only 2 y/o and our dentist said he's never seen someone so young with such severe narrowing/crowding of the mouth from sucking her thumb. I figure $40 now might save us thousands in orthodontia down the road and I really want to figure out a way to get her to stop sucking her thumb now before the damage to her teeth gets even worse (and before the habit becomes even more ingrained.)

Do these seem like a reasonable and humane approach to try? The only suggestion our dentist had was hot sauce... 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/58818447/xsmall-me-thumbguard-thumb-cover-ends

kellnbri

onestepahead.com  sells something like this but it is all plastic

https://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=5894&parentCategoryId=85180&categoryId=117491  It's a lot more money than the etsy one but you can read all the reviews about it

 

goodheartedmommy

My parents put my sister in a big tshirt with the ends tied up so she couldn't get her thumbs out. However, she managed to get her hands out of the shirt to suck her thumbs anyway (she was much older, though). It's worth a shot before you spend $40.

GettinNervous

I would probably buy just one and try that.

CleoKitty

I saw that hard plastic one but thought it could be really uncomfortable. The cloth ones seems like they'd be cozier/softer and I could order them in pink, girly fabrics that she would like better.

CleoKitty

GHM- Dd can completely dress/undress herself so I have no doubt that she'd just take the shirt off. We've tried wrapping her hand up in an ace bandage and a bandana at night but she always manages to get that off in her sleep.

Yodajo

I would pass on it.  She's still going to get her thumb in her mouth enough for it to keep her palate in its current position.  She'll just wake up  a wet soggy mess with it on.

I would try GHM's suggestion or a variation of it first. 

ETA:  I just saw that you've tried that.  I don't know what else you could wrap her hand in that she couldn't get off.  Maybe ask your pedi for suggestions?

MelandJeff

I dont think its cruel, but that seems so expensive!

shiloh17

I think I have heard of this bitter apple stuff that you can use to stop thumb sucking. Kids dont like the taste and it wont burn like hot sauce! That just sounds mean, and a headache for the parents! Good luck.

gdemars

My parents bribed me.  lol  I remember getting a doll that I wanted sooooo bad when I stopped sucking my thumb.  I was probably 4ish.  Unfortunately, they still spent WAY too much on orthodontics.  But I still remember wanting that doll and finally being able to go buy it. 

Not that bribing your LO is a great idea but this just reminded me. 

shopgirl78

I remember having a friend when I was little whose parents taped oven mitts to her hands in order for her to quit sucking her thumb. 

Zenya

If she really wants to suck her thumb then anything that gets in the way of that is going to upset her.  Not that upsetting her is the end of the world.  But I'd go for the bribe end of things.  And maybe something like that if you can get her to agree and she might think it'll help her.