Comments on: How to Stop a Child From Sucking Fingers

on 10/16/2008 I tried the good praise, the glove, the lets go somewhere special reward. But my daughter still sucks her finger. Now that she started school, I am told that her writting skills or lack there of (unable to manipulate a pencil) are the result of weak finger. She is right handed and sucks her right index finger. Now at age five I am experiencing all the concequences of finger/thumb sucking. Like doing special hand/finger exercises to strenghten her finger or purchesing special gripps to use with her pencil. My advise to all future parents is to stop the finger/thumb sucking early. It might be cute at first but very problematic later. THE SOON THE BETTER FOR BOTH YOUR CHILD AND YOU!!!!

on 10/6/2008 It should be stopped right when the child is a toddler. You should not wait till after toddlerhood "right before the permanent teeth come in".
The baby teeth set the place for permanent teeth. That is why you want to stop it before the permanent teeth come in. My child is 15 months old... She understands that when we say FINGER, she needs to stop sucking her thumb. She will even pull her thumb out of her mouth. Our problem is keeping it out, it is a tough habit to break, therefore it should be broken ASAP to prevent problems later in life. Like nail biting and dental problems.

on 4/9/2008 thank u for the tips

on 4/9/2008 it was easy to stop stucking my baby

on 11/22/2005 Have your child suck a pacifier. After 1 month, take the pacifier away from the child. Keep the pacifier longer, if needed.