Sunday, August 21, 2011

Need Advice- Let Me Know What You Think....

OK, sorry if I worried you.
It's not that big of a deal.
But, the little guy still sucks his thumb.

And now he is over 3.
He is potty trained - woo hoo!
But sucking his thumb more than ever.

So, the other day he fell off of his cozy coupe (ya know the orange and yellow car you drive Flintstone style) at his nana's. Yes, his sister was driving him around on the top. No one is sure why- but it's what happened. No one was hurt, but the little guy skinned his thumb pretty bad.

On goes gauze and some band-aids.
Which thumb you might ask?

The little guy said, "Oh, it's the thumb I suck".

So, we have noticed with the band-aid on, he doesn't suck his thumb.

His thumb healed in a couple of days, but I have been putting a clean band-aid on every night so he stops sucking his thumb all together.

I figure it usually takes about 21 days to break a habit.

But he has been cranky.

Does he need to soothe himself?
Should I just let him suck his thumb until he decides to stop?

I feel bad.
Part of me wants to stop him and get it over with and another part of me feels like he needs to do it and I just leave it and him alone.

What do you think?
Please feel free to weigh in whether you have no kids or 19 kids (that's for Michelle Duggar in case she stops by my blog- hey, ya never know).

Seriously, what would you do?
End it or leave it?

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  1. Well, I'd like to say that you should try to break the habit, since the thumb wrapping seems to be working... BUT... I don't know that I'm one to say since I'm STILL trying to get the binky away from my 2.5 year old son at nap time. We've attempted to take it several times, but I always end up giving in on one of those horrible he-won't-take-a-nap days. =) The cranky... that's what does me in. =)

    Good luck!

  2. I don't have kids so my advice may be crap but you don't see a whole lot of college students (esp. men) sucking their thumbs! I think he will grow out of it. I did know a lady a while back that sucked her thumb as an adult but I always thought it was a bit of an act. What it comes down to is what is best for your family. If the bandage thing is working for you and you want to keep it up its not going to scar him for life either!

  3. My son Edison, who is 6, is still sucking his thumb. And, he shows no signs of breaking the habit. I wish I had worked harder to break him of it when he was younger, but I kept thinking he'd grow out of it. Now, the dentist warns us that he is doing permanent damage to his jaw and could also damage his permanent teeth. Ugh!

    So, actually I need some ideas of how to help him.

  4. Hi! I am a new follower from MFM! Love this post - several giggles here. I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it (aka keep using the band aides if its working). Blessings!

  5. I never had a thumb sucker but I have heard it can do some pretty good damage to their teeth. And from a preschool teachers point of view the thumb sucking is kinda yucky in the classroom. They go from toy to toy to friend to friend and when they have their thumb in their mouth and then play with a toy, well it is just so germy. And heaven knows there are enough germs already in a preschool classroom. I start school next week. I think I'm ready


  7. That is similar to how I stopped sucking mine. I picked up a razor at my grandmother's and cut my thumb. She covered it with some gauze and a band-aid for a few days and I kicked the habit! It wokred me 20 something years ago! I think he will be fine if you keep with the babd-aid. From an SLP point of view, the sooner he stops the better!

  8. If that's working, keep doing it! I'm going to remember this for one of my friends! I pushed the pacifier on my kids because I didn't want thumb's easy to pull the plug! ;) Not as easy to break this habit.




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