![]() Apply bitter nail polishĪlso a strategy used for aggressive nail biters, bad-tasting polish applied to the fingers can deter a thumb sucker.īut some experts don’t recommend this approach since it’s not the nicest way to break your child’s habit. You can also read a book, like Thumbs Up, Brown Bear or I Can Do It - I Don’t Need My Thumb. Watch a TV show where a character has to break a habit, and then talk with your child about doing the same. If your child gets most of their life advice from Daniel Tiger (or Peppa Pig, or Paw Patrol), you might want to tap that resource. Does it feel good? Do they even know they’re doing it? Is there something else they can do (like hugging a lovey or counting slowly to three) that will make them feel just as good? Learn about thumb sucking together ![]() Ask your child - in a curious rather than condemning way, of course - why they suck their thumb. Some kids just don’t realize that sucking their thumb is a habit they should outgrow. These strategies work best for older children who want to stop. Strategies to help your child quit their thumb-sucking habitĪlthough most kids stop thumb sucking on their own before they enter kindergarten, you know your child best - and if you feel they need a little extra intervention, there are plenty of strategies and products that may help. And if you’ve decided now’s the time, here’s how to stop it - plus everything else you need to know about thumb sucking. But it’s true that it may be a good idea to help your little one kick the habit at a certain point. Your kid’s not gonna go off to college sucking their thumb. Meanwhile, well-meaning friends, family members, and even strangers at the grocery store are warning you that letting your child suck their thumb for too long can lead to a bunch of oral and dental problems. Sure, it was cute back then - but now your child is 3 or 4, and getting them to stop sucking their thumb seems about as easy as convincing them that the blue cup is just as good as the red one. You may even have left an ultrasound appointment during pregnancy with a grainy photo of your little one happily self-soothing in the womb. From the moment they first discover their fingers and toes (consciously or not), many babies have a fascination with sucking their thumbs.
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