sucking thumb wwyd?

[kibba]

My daughter just turned 4 and still sucks her thumb. I know it can vary kid to kid on how often they do it. I would say dd is thankfully one that doesn't do it all day long. She does it when shes tired (in the car after a long day or at night) She also has to have her blankey to suck her thumb. If we stay home and its early she will still suck her thumb then too (for an hour or so as shes waking up, becoming active)

So the dentist told us she really needs to stop... I think it's really best she stop too. She was there during the talk at the dentist, and when I saw her start to suck her thumb I reminded her what the dentist said. I'm just not sure how to handle this issue?!?????

Do I help her stop? How?  I know it's not good for her teeth....please help! :( Part of me just wants to let her do it, but I'm not sure that- that is right...

[starbuckmom]

I am in the same boat as you but my ds is 5.  Like your dd, he only sucks his thumb when blankie is in his hands.  I need to reinforce that blankie needs to stay in his bed for the day and he can only have it at night.  Don't know how we are going to break the night time thumb sucking.  I think I will give him till this summer and then we can have a talk about stopping sucking his thumb.

[DidiToo]

We got this talk from the dentist at DS2's first appointment, right after he turned three.  He wasn't constant about it, but he was a pretty dedicated thumb-sucker for falling asleep, when he was upset, when we were in the car or when he was simply having down-time with his blanket.  The problem was that it was already affecting the alignment of his teeth.  When he went to bite down, the top and bottom teeth didn't meet.  The dentist explained that this might necessitate a device to reshape the palate and jaw.  Also, since adult teeth are forming now, they could be impacted as well.

That really was hard news to hear.

The dentist recommended painting something called "Thumb" (available at pharmacies) on his thumb.  I found that gentle reminders worked for the car and all other awake-times.  I haven't seen him suck his thumb so much at night, but every once in a while he goes for it.  I've stopped with the Thumb.  I think he does it a lot less than he used to, and so I'm hoping that this is enough.

[GoBecGo]

my dd sucks her thumb.  i have done nothing.  i plan to do nothing.  i still suck my own thumb.  i accept dd might need orthodontic work later on (i never did), but i think she'll be better placed to understand braces as a teen than she is to understand me taking her comfort from her at 4.