[lyttlewon]

DH's family has taken in the past year to harrassing DD about sucking her thumb. Part of my challenge is her uncle is mentally delayed and doesn't understand sometimes what he is saying. A couple months ago he told her he was going to cut her thumb off. On saturday my FIL told her if she kept sucking her thumb it would fall off. I immediatly told her "you know how we have been talking about telling the truth recently? Grandpa is not telling you the truth." I have told them repeatedly to lay off and quit harrassing her about the thumb sucking. Is this something that is going to harm her in any way?<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">: I have already explained to her that momma will not let anyone cut her thumbs off and DH talked to his mom about Uncle G talking to her like this. I don't know what else to do. My FIL is one of those no one will tell me what to do kind of people. I am willing to just drop it but it irks me when they do it. It isn't something that happens non stop when we visit, which is maybe twice a month max, but it is brought up at least twice when we do.

 

[duckling]

The fact that they're threatening you daughter with dismemberment is terrifying. Even if you know that they don't literally intend to cut off her thumb, to a six year old, that could be devastating. For most kids, thumb sucking is a comfort response--a response I imagine she'll have some emotional need for if the adults in her life are making remarks about having her thumb cut off.<br><br>
I would tell the family that remarks about her thumb-sucking are absolutely not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Stick to it. Your daughter needs to see that her parents will protect her absolutely, not only from thumb removal but from adults who are unable to treat another human being with dignity and respect.

 

[DebHibb]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>duckling</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7945676"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I would tell the family that remarks about her thumb-sucking are absolutely not acceptable and will not be tolerated.</div>
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I absolutely agree! In all the research I've been doing these last few weeks on thumbsucking (speech delayed 19 mos old thumbsucker), this is not a 'recommended' approach to getting your child to stop thumbsucking. In fact, it could have the opposite effect from what I've read. The best way to get a child to stop is to get them on board with the idea, but not by threatening them.