How can I get my 4 1/2 year old to stop sucking his thumb?

Question

My son is 4 1/2 and he used to only suck his thumb at night but the older he gets the more he does it. I have been trying to talk to him about it, have read books about it to him, and even bought the bad tasting stuff and put it on there. He still does it but now has started sucking on his shirt too. I have no idea what to do. Any other suggestions? I have heard about the hot sauce on the finger but I haven't tried it because I am afraid he will rub his eye and it will burn from the hot sauce.

Answer 1

My stepdaughter is almost 5 and she sucks her thumb too. A while ago her mother put hot sauce on her finger and honestly…it scared the living h**l out of the kid. She’s scarred from hot sauce….we pulled it out the other day and the kid had a meltdown. So of course, every child is different, but this didn’t stop her from sucking her thumb. She turned to other fingers….

However, recently we’ve tried stickers on the thumb. For her we bought princesses. Buy him something like Spiderman or whatever he enjoys. Bandaids also work too and give him one warning to stop sucking the thumb then put the sticker or bandaid over it. If he sucks the sticker or bandaid, it’ll taste nasty.

My stepdaughter kept telling me that the sticker was hurting and itchy. So I told her I’d do it too and let her know if it was really itchy or if she was just trying to get me to take it off. Well, I woke up with my sticker still on my thumb and told her it didn’t hurt me at all. She was a little mad that she didn’t get away with it. She often comes up with excuses that it hurts her, that she promises she won’t suck her thumb anymore and the key is to NOT feed into it. Just this alone has made her more aware that she’s sucking her thumb and as much as she loves Princesses, she doesn’t like the sticker because other kids ask her why and she gets embarrassed when she has to say why.

This has worked for us quite well. However, nothing happens overnight….

Best of luck! It’s quite the battle

Answer 2

Leave him alone.  You are making more of an issue out of it than it needs.  There is nothing wrong with your son sucking his thumb, it gives him comfort and it doesn't make you look like a bad parent.

Answer 3

I don't underdtand the whole hot sauce thing... I think that is part of abuse... My son is 3 years old and Iam thiking because he didn't take a binky after 3months that is his safety net and there is nothing I can do after all, I can't force someone to pee if they can't pee.

Talk to the dentist andask about the precautions and any ideas from someone with experiance

Answer 4

Try Just Letting Him, But Only At Bed Time. Have A Chart That He Marks Every Day He Didn't Suck His Thumb!

Answer 5

Have you tried rewarding him with something special if he stops? Something he REALLY wants and then make him earn it.  Also talk to him about starting school and try to tell him that he is going to be made fun of if he doesn't stop. Sounds mean but truth is this will happen if he doesn't stop. Kids are kids and they like to make fun.  Tell him that he is a big boy now and big boys don't do this. Maybe offer a blanket or fav. stuffed animal for bedtime only in replace of the thumb.  As he grows up he will become more embarassed about it. Time cures all things! Good Luck

Answer 6

my little sister used  to do the same thing! then she accidently smashed her finger by a drawer & so for the longest time she had band-aids on her finger that she sucked & she couldnt suck it. Finally her finger got better but she didnt need to suck her finger anymore. If you can wrap something around his thumb to keep him from sucking from it a long time then he should not feel the need to suck it again!

I hope this helps!!

~Picktowngirl77

Answer 7

Hot sauce

There is a bitter nail polish thats non-toxic

Answer 8

I used to suck my thumb, and I think I stopped when I was 7 (I think). My parents tried everything. They put the bad tasting nail polish stuff on, but I just sucked either my knuckle, or another finger. They also got a really long sleeved sleeping shirt and pinned the ends shut, but I some how got my thumb out and sucked on it. I used to hide behind the couch so that mom wouldn't see me sucking my thumb. My point is, it will be impossible to "force" him to stop. You can't make the descion for him, he has to decide to stop. Try giving him 5 dimes, and everytime you catch him sucking his thumb, he has to give you a dime. At the end of the day, then he can buy a candy or toy for 50 cents. Or let him put a sticker on a chart for every day that he doesn't suck his thumb. It all depends on your son, and what you think he'll work with best. Just try to reason with him, and come to a conclusion that will work best for both you and him.

hope this helps

Answer 9

Give him some more attention, and touch him a lot. It is known that thumb sucking is the result of not enough attention. Put boxing gloves on his hands lol. JK, but it sometimes works. However, giving more attention is the better remedy.