You see as a baby he took his pacifier, and had a special bear he would carry around. Around 10 months old, we left the house in a hurry and ran out without a pacifier. It was only once we were almost to where we were going that I realized. I freaked!
"We have to turn around and go back to the house. There is no way we will be able to go out to eat, or anywhere for that matter without the pacifier"!
"I am not turning around for a pacifier, he will be fine"!
And sure enough he was, never cried once that day for the pacifier, took a nap without it even. When we got home I threw all the pacifiers away except one that I put up. He never took one again.
It was too long after that he started sucking his thumb. It didn't really bother me too much, I figured he would grow out of it. Then when we were moving we took the opportunity to get rid of the bear because we noticed he would suck his thumb when he was holding the bear. We thought if we got rid of the bear the thumb sucking would stop.
It didn't.
He didn't even mind the bear being gone. He just began using a blanket. And he has been like that ever since. He grabs his blanket and sucks his thumb. He was to the point of only doing it at home, if he was tired, bedtime, nap time, upset.
But just recently he has started doing it more and at unusual times. Like the other day at the mall, he never did it while we were out.
I can already tell it is messing with his front teeth, and some times it makes his thumb raw. I am not sure how to get him to stop. If we talk to him about it, or ask him to stop, he runs to his room to do it.
I just have no idea what to do. I mean I guess it's not a big deal, except for the fact that it is messing up his teeth. I guess he could still outgrow it, but he is going to be 4 and I really would like to get a handle on this.
SO anyone have problems with this? I will take any advice, suggestions, ANYTHING that could help.
Thank you so much in advance!
3 comments:
all 3 of mine were (2 still are) pacifier users. We decided 3 was the cut off age. Myleigh has 4 more months and I'm dreading taking her's away! Thumb sucking is harder because you cant take away his thumb. I would say start by limiting when he is allowed to do it (nap time, bet time etc) will he be going to school in the fall? Maybe try to play that up explaining how only big boys can go to school and that the school doesn't allow thumb sucking. Try replacing the times he sucks his thumb with fun activities or games. Maybe offer a reward when he has gone a certain amount of time without sucking his thumb.
I've also heard good things about this book http://www.amazon.com/David-Decides-About-Thumbsucking-Children/dp/0961478020
Good luck!!
I know this is a much bigger issue in the US than in the UK but even so please don't panic. I sucked my thumb, at night, until I was about 10 and then gave up when I decided I wanted to. I have managed to get DD to stop sucking during the day, she's 5, but I will wait till she's ready to stop at night - it's comforting and something which only she can decide on.
Good luck with whatever you decide, it's such a hard thing.
emma http://majorloveoffilm.blogspot.com
it probably won't affect his adult teeth (as long as he stops when before they are in). I would think having an overbite has a lot to do with the jaw structure, not sure how much thumb sucking affects it really
my Sister In Law sucked her thumb for a long time. her parents tape/tied magazines over her elbows so she couldn't bend them to get her thumb into her mouth!
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