Thumb-Sucking

Home Treatment

Many experts recommend ignoring thumb-sucking in a child who is preschool age or younger. Most children stop sucking their thumbs on their own sometime between ages 3 and 6.

Home treatment to help a child stop sucking the thumb is not usually attempted until age 4 and then only if the behavior is frequent or intense. Beginning at age 4, dental and speech problems can develop as a result of thumb-sucking.

Home treatment for thumb-sucking is usually successful. Parents can set rules and help distract a young child from thumb-sucking. The child can take a more active role in controlling thumb-sucking as he or she matures and is able to understand cause-and-effect relationships, concepts of time, values (such as right and wrong, or sense of pride), and has some self-control.²

The following are suggestions to help your child stop sucking his or her thumb:³

Parent-directed measures for a young child (around age 4)

• Give your child more attention and distract him or her with engaging activities.
• Limit the places and times for thumb-sucking. For example, ask your child to do it only while in his or her bedroom.
• Put away items (such as blankets) that your child associates with thumb-sucking. At first, put the items away for short periods of time throughout the day. As your child learns other ways of self-comfort, gradually increase the amount of time these items are not available.

Measures where the child takes an active role (beginning around age 5)

• Talk to your child openly about the effects of thumb-sucking.
• Put gloves on your child's hands or wrap the thumb with an adhesive bandage or a cloth. Explain that the glove, bandage, or cloth is not a punishment, but is only there to remind him or her not to thumb-suck.
• Develop a reward system, such as putting stickers on a calendar to record each day that your child does not suck his or her thumb. After an agreed-upon number of days, have a celebration for your child.
• Use a special nontoxic, bitter-tasting nail coating, such as Thum. Apply it like fingernail polish to the thumbnail (or fingernail) each morning, before bed, and whenever you see your child sucking his or her thumb. This treatment is most successful when it is combined with a reward system.

Before you start any home treatment for thumb-sucking, make sure you feel comfortable and confident with your plan. In addition, make sure your methods will be consistently used by other people who care for your child. For more information, see:

How to stop thumb-sucking.

When attempting to get your child to stop thumb-sucking:

• You should not remove the thumb from the child's mouth while he or she is awake. You can remove it after the child is asleep.
• Do not punish or shame your child for thumb-sucking. Stay neutral, calm, and nonjudgmental when talking about your child's thumb-sucking habit.
• Do not allow other people to make fun of your child.

If home treatment methods have not worked and you are concerned or feel frustrated about your child's thumb-sucking, talk with a health professional.

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Author:	Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: October 2, 2006
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine
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