2 yr old thumb sucking?
Answers:
Motivate your child by talking to him or her about why it is important to stop thumb-sucking. Explain that stopping will help him or her have a beautiful smile and nice teeth. Let your child know that continuing will cause problems with how his or her teeth grow.
Use a mirror to show your child the changes happening to his or her teeth or mouth shape.
Talk about the unhealthy germs that are on our hands and how the child puts the germs in his or her mouth by thumb-sucking.
Talk to your child about becoming a "big boy" or "big girl" by stopping thumb-sucking. Remind your child that he or she may be teased for continuing thumb-sucking.
Make sure you choose the right time to have this discussion. Children often suck their thumbs to relieve stress. Picking a stress-free time will help the child succeed. Also, a child probably needs to be 4 or 5 in order to understand your reasoning and to be able to cooperate in this process.
What are some practical ways to help my child quit?
For the first week, keep your child's hands busy with puzzles, games, crafts, or other favourite activities. You may need to limit TV time since many children unconsciously suck their thumbs while watching TV.
You may wish to use a bandage on the fingernail to remind your child not to suck the thumb. If the bandage comes off, replace it without being critical or embarrassing your child.
Carefully remove your child's thumb from his or her mouth during sleep. Thumb-sucking at night is the most difficult habit to break. It may take up to 3 months before your child is able to fall asleep without thumb-sucking. Try offering a favourite stuffed animal or putting a hand puppet on your child's hand at bedtime as a reminder. Gently explain to your child that if he or she continues to suck the thumb during the night, the habit will not go away and the changes to the mouth will continue to occur.
Avoid putting your child in situations that are upsetting while he or she is trying to break the thumb-sucking habit; your child will likely turn to thumb-sucking for comfort. Make sure your child gets enough sleep and food during this time.
Offer plenty of praise when your child goes without thumb-sucking during an activity that normally would have included that habit. Do not shame or punish your child for thumb-sucking; this will only lower his or her self-esteem.
Throughout this process, provide empathy and encouragement, and be available for your child. Acknowledge that this is a difficult habit to break. If you are consistent, patient, and positive, your child will be more likely to succeed. Remember this is your child's habit to break, and he or she must be willing to co-operate. Do not force your child to comply.
Should I give my child rewards?
Rewards are a great way to motivate your child. If you reward your child often and regularly for not thumb-sucking, he or she is more likely to succeed.
Set a goal for how long your child will try to go without thumb-sucking. Start with one day, or even part of a day; then aim for longer periods. Let your child pick a reward for reaching that goal.
During the first week, reward your child on the first day. Then reward him or her every other day for good progress. Rewards might be small toys, markers, sugarless gum or candy, a favourite treat, or a privilege like watching a favourite video or a trip to the park.
During the second week, use a calendar or a progress chart that identifies the days of the week. Let your child put stickers on or mark the days he or she has gone without thumb-sucking.
After the first goal is reached, set a new, longer goal. For example, if the first goal was 2 weeks without thumb-sucking, the next goal could be 4 or 6 weeks. After this goal is reached, set another, such as 3 months. Make sure your child is rewarded for reaching every milestone.
What if my child can't break the habit?
Some children have a more difficult time than others giving up thumb-sucking. It is important to use positive reinforcement during this process.
Try using gentle reminders such as placing a bandage on the thumb so your child is aware when the thumb goes in his or her mouth. Be sure to let your child know the bandage is not punishment, but merely a reminder not to suck the thumb.
If your child is insecure, has any emotional problems, or is under stress and needs comforting, you may need to resolve those issues first before your child will succeed at stopping thumb-sucking.
If your child continues thumb-sucking, you may want to speak to a pediatrician or dentist to learn about devices (such as a thumb guard) that can be tried to prevent thumb-sucking.
Another type of treatment uses a special non-toxic, bitter-tasting nail coating. These products are applied like fingernail polish to the thumbnail 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. Some health professionals recommend using this type of treatment only after other therapies (such as thumb or oral devices) have failed. Talk to your health professional about which therapy may be right for your child.
Other Answers:
its fine for now, its normal, but watch if he continues to suck his thumb. if he does it too much, gradually, he will begin to push his front teeth forward. also, breastfeeding him might have caused it. did you breastfeed him?
My son sucked his thumb until he was 9. He is now 43 and senior executive in a large oil company.
when he does it use a passifier(dummy) otherwise he will end up with one thumb smaller than the other in later life.
which is exactly why he is doing it - smart little stinker. Just ignore it and when the fun stops he will find a new game.
i sucked my fingers until i was like 8...but since he just started he is probably just playing a game and you should ignore it...also if he continues to do it he may have an overbite and other problems with his teeth when he is older...i like i said sucked my fingers until i was 8 or 9 and i just got my braces off after about 3 years
He has proberbly seen another baby doing it and he is trying to imitate. It seems that he's doing it to get your attention and he wants you to say not to do it.
When he is doing it the next time try to divert his thoughts to something else and he will eventually forget it
I wouldn't worry it sounds like he sees it as a game. If it does continue for too long you can always get that stuff for stopping nail biting and put it on his thumb. YUK
and as for joey da jojo saying breastfeeding causes children to suck their thumbs where on earth did she get that one from!!!I brest fed my twins till 2 and a half and they were not thumb suckers. the only thumb suckers I know were bottle fed...but I don't believe there is a conection, so don't feel any guilt over that one
he may have seen someone else doing it.try putting hot sauce or pepper on his thumb.I did that with my son it took him 3 days to stop.
so long he cuts it out by 3 he's kool!
Dip his thumb in vinagar. He'll never put it in again..OMG OR DIP IT IN SALT!!!!!!!!
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