Parenting Big Kids (5-8) Support Group
This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of big kids (5 to 8 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development. Join to share your stories and get advice.
I am looking for advice on how to help my five and a half year old stop sucking his thumb. He goes back and forth between being "ready" to stop and then decides not to. I have not been pushing the issue too much. However, we have a couple of "rules" to help reduce it. He needs to keep his thumb out of his mouth while we are reading, or while he watches tv. For the most part, he responds well to reminders. I believe he is trying to regulate this behavior as I do not think he sucks his thumb while he is at school.
The reason I am asking now is that he is getting older, and he also has two adult teeth that are beginning to come through.
Fortunately, he is showing signs of wanting to stop this on his own. I believe this has to be something he wants to do. However, I am concerned that this will change, as it has in the past. Currently he has two wiggly teeth, so it is becoming uncomfortable for him to suck his thumb.
I have met older children who have had to have metal contraptions placed in their mouths (by dentists) to stop this behavior. I have also met a couple of adult "thumb suckers" in my life. I believe my son will be able to stop when he is ready, but I also recognize that it is a difficult habit. I was a "thumb sucker" and apparently I told my dad that I was ready to stop and he put band aids on my thumb as a reminder.
Any additional tips?
The reason I am asking now is that he is getting older, and he also has two adult teeth that are beginning to come through.
Fortunately, he is showing signs of wanting to stop this on his own. I believe this has to be something he wants to do. However, I am concerned that this will change, as it has in the past. Currently he has two wiggly teeth, so it is becoming uncomfortable for him to suck his thumb.
I have met older children who have had to have metal contraptions placed in their mouths (by dentists) to stop this behavior. I have also met a couple of adult "thumb suckers" in my life. I believe my son will be able to stop when he is ready, but I also recognize that it is a difficult habit. I was a "thumb sucker" and apparently I told my dad that I was ready to stop and he put band aids on my thumb as a reminder.
Any additional tips?
it could be an oral issue as well. my son still is putting non edible things in his mouth to chew on and he's 7. i have bought him a chew necklace to assist with that.