Thumb sucking at 4.5

Minstermind · Sep 28th, 2009, 17:19 PM

My friend has a 4 1/2 year old boy and is not concerned, per se, but sensitive to the fact that he's still very much attached to his teddy bear and still sucks his thumb, particularly when he's holding his teddy bear. She's not going to force him to stop either thing because she's uncomfortable with the idea of doing that to a child, but at the same time, wishes he would grow out of it already. She and her husband now try to encourage him to just have his teddy bear at night when he's in bed, and less so during the day.

I was just curious if anyone else here had a similar experience, or had any opinion on the matter, for or against, and what are your thoughts?

ladypotter · Sep 30th, 2009, 20:55 PM

I personally sucked my thumb until I was nearly 7. My parents tried everything to get me to quit (clear fingernail polish on my thumb to make it taste bad, socks on my hands etc..). One day, I just stopped. I know it isn't great for the kid, but how many 30 year olds do you know that still suck there thumb. He'll quit eventually (when he's ready). :-)

Minstermind · Oct 1st, 2009, 16:55 PM

Thanks ladypotter! I thought I might have to try a different forum on here altogether to get a reply, lol... it does seem, from what I have read about it, to be very common and something most kids grow out of on their own. I've talked with my friend since then and she said she's actually alright with the act itself, just was worried a bit at times when someone mentioned that her son might have dental issues as a result. It's funny, the little things we come across as parents and have to think about, that never crossed our minds before!

ladypotter · Oct 1st, 2009, 17:46 PM

Yeah, my teeth were fine...I needed braces, but that was more genetic than anything else!! :-)

Beautywithin · Oct 2nd, 2009, 04:34 AM

My daughter has sucked her thumb, since she was 1, she is now 5/half and still does it, she never took to a dummy, and she will only suck her thumb when she is tired, she has had a few blisters on her thumb befor which was worrying but was told at that age not a lot you can do about it, it has got better, where as when she was younger she would thumb suck most of the time, its now only at bedtimes really, have noticed tho her thumb is really dried out, im sure one is gunna be bigger then the other lol

x

MrsGaSp · Oct 2nd, 2009, 23:38 PM

Not to worry any one or anything but sometimes it gets into a really bad habit that's hard to break I think more than likely if they have a good childhood and what not that he will grow out of it but i'm 17 and still suck my thumb and I've tried to stop and others have done everything they could think of to make me stop when i was little but none of it ever worked. I currently have braces and about to get them off and still haven't stopped but i did have a pretty unpleasant child hood which may be why i'm still doing it because its comforting and i feel as if i'm safe but i wish i knew how to stop. It's really embarrassing especially when i moved in with my bf I thought he would just hate it and kinda wishing he would to give me a reason to try. But it could last a long time. It's only at night or when i'm really down and none of my family even know about. But habits are hard to break.

Alexandra91 · Dec 9th, 2009, 04:43 AM

im 18 and still suck my thumb.. i dont see anything bad about it! Its not harming anyone and by the time he is old enough for other kids to notice i guarantee he wont do it around other people anymore. Most kids grow out of it but i dont think u can force anyone to stop, i do it automatically when im tired and even tho i get a bit of stick about it from my family everyone is used to it and it hasnt been a problem, i have never needed braces either

x

suzib76 · Dec 9th, 2009, 09:40 AM

my dd only started thumb sucking when she was 4.5 - 4 years on and she is still at it, mailny in bed or when she is tired though

Sophie1205 · Dec 9th, 2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexandra91

im 18 and still suck my thumb.. i dont see anything bad about it! Its not harming anyone and by the time he is old enough for other kids to notice i guarantee he wont do it around other people anymore. Most kids grow out of it but i dont think u can force anyone to stop, i do it automatically when im tired and even tho i get a bit of stick about it from my family everyone is used to it and it hasnt been a problem, i have never needed braces either

x

I'm 19 and I still do too.
I only do it when I'm tired too. My parents never gave me a dummy and never tried to stop me doing it

Wish they had though.
I get stick of my OH for it but I literally cannot help it.

Minstermind · Dec 9th, 2009, 17:48 PM

Wow, I never realized it could be so common with adults. Thanks for sharing your stories about it. It seems to be strongly associated with comfort from what I'm reading. I feel that way when I am in bed and totally under the covers, head and all, like I have temporarily tuned out the world and I'm in my little crab shell. I know it's not the same thing but I can relate in the sense of doing something that brings comfort.

Sep 28th, 2009, 17:19 PM	#1
Minstermind Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 2,376	Thumb sucking at 4.5 My friend has a 4 1/2 year old boy and is not concerned, per se, but sensitive to the fact that he's still very much attached to his teddy bear and still sucks his thumb, particularly when he's holding his teddy bear. She's not going to force him to stop either thing because she's uncomfortable with the idea of doing that to a child, but at the same time, wishes he would grow out of it already. She and her husband now try to encourage him to just have his teddy bear at night when he's in bed, and less so during the day. I was just curious if anyone else here had a similar experience, or had any opinion on the matter, for or against, and what are your thoughts?

Status: Offline

Sep 30th, 2009, 20:55 PM	#2
ladypotter Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,865	I personally sucked my thumb until I was nearly 7. My parents tried everything to get me to quit (clear fingernail polish on my thumb to make it taste bad, socks on my hands etc..). One day, I just stopped. I know it isn't great for the kid, but how many 30 year olds do you know that still suck there thumb. He'll quit eventually (when he's ready). :-)

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2009, 16:55 PM	#3
Minstermind Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 2,376	Thanks ladypotter! I thought I might have to try a different forum on here altogether to get a reply, lol... it does seem, from what I have read about it, to be very common and something most kids grow out of on their own. I've talked with my friend since then and she said she's actually alright with the act itself, just was worried a bit at times when someone mentioned that her son might have dental issues as a result. It's funny, the little things we come across as parents and have to think about, that never crossed our minds before!

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2009, 17:46 PM	#4
ladypotter Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,865	Yeah, my teeth were fine...I needed braces, but that was more genetic than anything else!! :-)

Status: Offline

Oct 2nd, 2009, 04:34 AM	#5
Beautywithin Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kent Posts: 6,014	My daughter has sucked her thumb, since she was 1, she is now 5/half and still does it, she never took to a dummy, and she will only suck her thumb when she is tired, she has had a few blisters on her thumb befor which was worrying but was told at that age not a lot you can do about it, it has got better, where as when she was younger she would thumb suck most of the time, its now only at bedtimes really, have noticed tho her thumb is really dried out, im sure one is gunna be bigger then the other lol x

Status: Offline

Oct 2nd, 2009, 23:38 PM	#6
MrsGaSp Waiting To Try (WTT) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 130	Not to worry any one or anything but sometimes it gets into a really bad habit that's hard to break I think more than likely if they have a good childhood and what not that he will grow out of it but i'm 17 and still suck my thumb and I've tried to stop and others have done everything they could think of to make me stop when i was little but none of it ever worked. I currently have braces and about to get them off and still haven't stopped but i did have a pretty unpleasant child hood which may be why i'm still doing it because its comforting and i feel as if i'm safe but i wish i knew how to stop. It's really embarrassing especially when i moved in with my bf I thought he would just hate it and kinda wishing he would to give me a reason to try. But it could last a long time. It's only at night or when i'm really down and none of my family even know about. But habits are hard to break.

Status: Offline

Dec 9th, 2009, 04:43 AM	#7
Alexandra91 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 270	im 18 and still suck my thumb.. i dont see anything bad about it! Its not harming anyone and by the time he is old enough for other kids to notice i guarantee he wont do it around other people anymore. Most kids grow out of it but i dont think u can force anyone to stop, i do it automatically when im tired and even tho i get a bit of stick about it from my family everyone is used to it and it hasnt been a problem, i have never needed braces either x

Status: Offline

Dec 9th, 2009, 09:40 AM	#8
suzib76 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4,693	my dd only started thumb sucking when she was 4.5 - 4 years on and she is still at it, mailny in bed or when she is tired though

Status: Offline

Dec 9th, 2009, 17:48 PM	#10
Minstermind Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 2,376	Wow, I never realized it could be so common with adults. Thanks for sharing your stories about it. It seems to be strongly associated with comfort from what I'm reading. I feel that way when I am in bed and totally under the covers, head and all, like I have temporarily tuned out the world and I'm in my little crab shell. I know it's not the same thing but I can relate in the sense of doing something that brings comfort.

Status: Offline

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