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I am at my wits end! My 5 year old son is totally addicted to his THUMB!! I have tried every nasty tasting thing that I can think of to dip his thumb into! Even used jalepeno peppers!! We have taped his thumb, put gloves on him, etc... Since hes turned 5, it seems like its 10 times worse!!
HELP! He starts school in August, and I cant stand the thought of him doing this ANY longer!!!!
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My advice to you is to absolutely ignore it. I sucked my thumb until I was so old I'm embarassed to tell you. My parents made the biggest deal out of it trying to get me to quit, which I think made it worse. I would just tell him that if he chooses to continue this habit, he needs to realize other children will make fun of him. Also explain the consequences of buck teeth and braces (twice for me) and the pain involved to repair the damamge he is doing. I know he is only 5, but if you explain the consequences and leave the decision up to him, that is all you can really do. You cannot make him stop, no matter what you do.
Just FYI, my parents put a metal prong mouth piece in my mouth, put pepper sauce on my thumb, taped my thumb, used socks and gloves on my hand, bitter stuff on my thumb - if he wants to suck his thumb, he is going to suck it. He has to decide to stop...
Just wanted to add, keep in mind that you don't see 20 year olds walking around sucking their thumbs... so it won't last forever, it just seems like it might. ;-)
All I can say is good luck. I sucked my thumb until I was nine. Nothing worked. I stopped when I got impetigo around my mouth. Maybe tell him that he can only do it for naps, and at night. Really as I got to age nine, I realized that was the times when I wanted it most. It's like any habit, he'll have to want to quit before it will ever work.