How to Get a 4-year-old to Stop Sucking His Thumb

So, you have a thumb sucker? Are you ready to break that habit? No, I mean are you really ready to break that habit? When you decide to start this process, you will have to be determined and consistent. This is not something you want to start and then stop; otherwise, you will completely confuse and upset both yourself and your child. Although thumb sucking is usually just the way the child calms and soothes himself, it can later lead to dental and speech problems and even teasing by peers. So, this is a habit you want to break by the time the child is 4 years old. The key is to make sure you are prepared to handle the situation with patience, understanding and diligence.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gloves
• Games
• Stickers and a Chart

1. Make the Child Aware of It
   
   Explain to the child that he no longer needs to suck his thumb. Make him aware that you are going to help him quit sucking his thumb.

2. Distract the Child
   
   Give her lots of attention and keep her distracted. Keep her busy with games and activities. When she begins to suck her thumb, you could say, “Hey, let’s play pat-a-cake.” But don’t yell, “Don’t suck your thumb!” You don’t want to make her nervous about it.

3. Limit a Time and Place for Thumb Sucking
   
   Allow the child to suck his thumb only at bed and nap times and only in his bedroom during those times. Throughout the day (for short periods at first) put away anything that the child will attach to thumb sucking, such as a stuffed animal or favorite blanket. The child will learn to use other forms of self-comfort during those times. You can give him those items during nap time or at bedtime. As the child adjusts, you can shorten these times.

4. Put Gloves On
   
   Explain that you are trying to remind her not to suck her thumb by putting the gloves on. Make her aware that the gloves are not a punishment, just a reminder.

5. Develop a Reward System
   
   Set a number of hours or days, whatever works best for you and your child, and select a reward to be given if the child goes the set time without sucking his thumb. Use a chart with stickers to document his progress. Make sure to praise the child for every little bit he goes without sucking his thumb along the way too. This will give him positive feedback making him more eager to try. However, don’t punish or scold the child if he does lapse. Remember, this is how he calms and comforts himself, so upsetting him or making him nervous is not helping him avoid this habit. If anything, making him feel ashamed will make it harder for him to break the habit.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not remove the thumb from the child’s mouth until the child is asleep.
• Don’t ever punish or shame the child when you catch her sucking her thumb.
• Don’t tease or allow others to tease or make fun of him.
• Don’t start trying to break the habit until you are ready to be consistent.
• Remember this is a habit, and we all know how hard habits are to break.
• A quarter to one-half of children between the ages of 2 and 4 years of age suck their thumbs.
• Around the age of 4 the thumb sucking can begin to cause speech and dental problems if not stopped.
• Thumb sucking can cause thumb and nail infections.

[PajamaMommy]

on 8/3/2008 Thank you for this. My daughter just turned four and sucks on 2 fingers all the time. I am trying to break the habit and have had no success with getting her to only suck at night (she can't fall asleep without it).

I am going to try and use your advice. Hopefully we can break the habit without too much stress and too many tears.

[PajamaMommy]

on 8/3/2008 Thank you for this. My daughter just turned four and sucks on 2 fingers all the time. I am trying to break the habit and have had no success with getting her to only suck at night (she can't fall asleep without it).

I am going to try and use your advice. Hopefully we can break the habit without too much stress and too many tears.