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6 year old still sucking his finger

cabee310cabee310 member
in School-Aged Children

I don't usually post over here but I'm desperate for something that works. My son just turned 6 years old and still sucks his finger. It's only when he's watching cartoons or sleeping, but with his permanent coming in any time now, I am desperate for this to stop. I feel like I've tried everything possible.

I've lived by the "he'll out grow it stage", after than I tried rewards and encouraging to be a "big boy". I tried showing him he's grown and doesn't wear diapers and doesn't need to suck his finger. I've had his pediatrician and dentist tell him isn't bad for him. And yes, even though I've read not to do it, I've gotten desperate and tried the bad tasting stuff for his finger and gloves. Nothing works. Any suggestions on what I'm supposed to do now would be great! Thanks!

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Re: 6 year old still sucking his finger

  • jeffscutewifejeffscutewife member

    This may not be what you want to hear, but, I believe in the he'll grow out of it stage. My brother sucked his thumb until he was 8 and has perfectly straight teeth without braces or anything. Hang in there, he WILL grow out of it. My 5 year old still sucks her thumb when she's tired or hungry, I think it'll finally pass soon enough.

     Good Luck! 

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  • ccm1203ccm1203 member

    Also of the camp "he will grow out of it".  I sucked my fingers until I was 8 or 9, my parents tried everything.  The only thing that worked was a reward that I really wanted and it was AT the right time.   

     

    I didn't have buck teeth and sucked my fingers.  My sister had slightly buck teeth and didn't suck her fingers. 

    Cheryl, Evan 4.25.05, Paige 7.2.07
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  • HisChamaoleGirlHisChamaoleGirl member
    I sucked my thumb until I was ten years old. The only thing that really helped me stop was wrapping an ace bandage around my hand while I slept. During the day was harder to stop, but once I got braces (yes my teeth got that bad) I couldnt fit my thumb in my mouth anymore. And thats how I ended up quitting.

    BFP #1 11/07/2012 EDD 07/09/2013 M/C 11/22/2012

    BFP #2 02/05/2013 EDD 09/19/2013 Arrived via c-section 09/27/2013

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  • jlw2505jlw2505 member
    With my 5 year old, it took her speech therapist to really get it through to her.  We bought a few chew toys (a bracelet she can wear at all times and play with or chew on plus a rubber toy that is made for this type of thing that she can use at home at night).  It has worked great.  In the 3 weeks since we started this, she no longer sucks her thumb during the day including rest time.  Not sure about night time.  Her rewards for this are big - going to the nail salon for a mani/pedi, a tea party at American Girl and a cake party at home (so we could get her male cousin involved in the celebration since I know he won't step foot in American Girl but she really wants him involved). This was really hard for her and she still struggles daily but she is breaking the habit!
    Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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