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Night time thumb sucking

jlw2505jlw2505 member
in Pre-School and Daycare

My 4 1/2 year old very easily gave up daytime thumb sucking in late August.  We had been talking to her about it for a while and she had decided she would stop before she started PreK and she did.  It went super easy.  She is still sucking her thumb at night though to help sooth herself to sleep.  Part of feels like this is OK but then I see my older DD 's teeth who also still soothes herself to sleep at 6 although not all the time.  Her 2 adult teeth are coming in crooked already and I know she will need a lot of orthodontian work.  I would love to have my 4 year old kick the habit now before she starts loosing teeth.  We have been using the bad tasting nail polish which helps but I just feel bad doing that to my girls (trying it on both).  I found one inexpensive glove thing but the reviews are horrible.  Band aids they just take off.  I am thinking of trying a sports tape as I am thinking that might be harder for them to get off.  Thoughts?  Both girls have fallen asleep fine (I just need to get the 4 1/2 year old to lay down and not thinking about it and she is out but she will start sucking if she wakes up a little and with the polish, she then wakes up due to the taste but I can get her right back to bed).  I know when they have band aids on during the day, it works.

Any tips for night time that you found that worked?  It is very much a habit that they are not even aware of for the most part.

Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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Re: Night time thumb sucking

  • ridesbuttonsridesbuttons member
    Quinine?  Though I have no idea where to buy it and probably not really different than the bad tasting nail polish (though it might give them some immunity to malaria, lol).
    promised myself I'd retire when I turned gold, and yet here I am
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  • Max'smomMax'smom member

    DS1 is also 4.5 yrs and a thumb sucker however I Idon't plan to actively push him to stop. I feel pretty strongerly that children give up what soothes them naturally when they are ready. That won't be much help to you. :)

    I did ask our dentist at our appt last spring if when we should be concerned about his teeth. He actually said that thumb sucking is bad at any age and should be discouraged. It effects the way the bridge of the mouth forms not just adult teeth coming in straight.

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  • jlw2505jlw2505 member
    Just a note if anyone else reads this looking for suggestions - we put the yucky polish on 2 times so it was a few days total and she fussed for a short time the 1st 2 nights and that was it.  Last night we used a small amount of sports tape just to see if it was wet when she woke up and it was dry.  We are going to use the tape for a few more nights just to make sure but I think since she was really ready to be done (and had already stopped during the day) she is over it!!!!
    Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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