Help thumb crisis.. need advice..?

Question

I have an 8 year old son, he is my special baby, he has boderline autisim, my son can't quit sucking his thumb he was born with it in his mouth. We try everything and nothing helped, well his dentist says that his teeth are growing bad because of this habit.. and his thumb is mishaped because of it.. So we decided little Kobe needs help to stop. We picked this device is a metal thing that goes on the roof of his mouth. We explain to my son why and he was sad but he understands that he has to stop. But sense then his being sad, he cries and he can't sleep. It hasn't happend yet the device will be placed on Jun 18 and he knows this. He started to call everyday from school saying his belly hurts. I took him to the doctor's and he ask me is there something wrong out of the ordinary with my son, I told him about the procedure and he decided to send him to get counseling. I am taking him so he can understand. But I can't help to feel so sad for him when I see my baby try.. read more

Answer 1

Hi,I don't know that much about kids.But,I heard if you put

something on his thumb,that doesn't taste good.He will stop

sucking on it.That's all I have.Love,Tony

Answer 2

Perhaps there is more going on here than just the thumb.  It may be that the thumb sucking is a reaction to issues he is having at school.

And you might try helping him look at it as a positive step.  Let him pick a reward of some kind for after the procedure is done - something that will turn it in to something to look forward to.

He gets his cues from you.  How you handle it affects how he handles it.

Answer 3

The device will work it is just too bad that it was not put in earlier. My daughter had one put in when she was 5 and it helped her break the habit of thumb sucking. I think your son feels as if he is losing is best friend. He has been able to suck his thumb for eight years as a way of comforting him. It will take some time and it might be rough at first but with the device put in he really has no choice but to stop.