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Bad habit

My six year old daughter will not stop sucking her thumb! I thought she would out grow it by now but she hasn't ! She doesn't  do it at school or anywhere besides at home. She began sucking it more after January of '011 when my husband's mom died. I have tried having keep her hands busy with play dough or dolls. But when I was overseas in Afghanistan my 13 year old tried to stop her in the mornings when her father was getting breakfast ready or in the car. And she would tug at her hand and my 6 year old would bite down on her thumb. So we decided when I got back we would let her chew gum! It still didn't work! Any suggestions?
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973741 tn?1342342773
I was a thumb sucker when young and was not that attached to it by the time my parents wanted to see me stop (which most parents do . . . )---  so when my mother made the idea of paying me for it available, cha ching!  Bonus.  I made some piggy bank money stopping what I was outgrowing myself.  You could do that or as allmymarbles suggests, just ignore it.

Also, offer her more age appropriate ways to self soothe during the day.  Gum, gummie bears, a straw to chew on.  good luck

Helpful - 0
757137 tn?1347196453
Just ignore her habit. Every time you mention it, it reminds her to suck. Since I have never seen an adult suck his or her thumb, it is my guess that she will give up this childish habit eventually.
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Avatar universal
I don't see the big deal in this.  I sucked my thumb for years, and if something really stressful happens to me to this day, I will start doing it again.  I don't think there is any harm in letter her self sooth the way that she needs to.
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973741 tn?1342342773
Go ahead and try the bribe of some change each day she doesn't do it.  And get her a replacement comfort item for her bedroom. Ask her what she'd like.  Try to go the positive route.

Good luck.
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Avatar universal
My mom was telling me about that but she ***** on it for so long she gets all kids of sores in her mouth. And the dentist told her she will have braces when she gets older like her sister so were trying to stop her so she doesn't make her teeth even worse then they are.
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1006035 tn?1485575897
Don't worry about it. If she's not doing it at school I don't understand what the big deal is? I know adults who still do it, no biggie.
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973741 tn?1342342773
Ha, missed the sentence that she ALREADY does it only at night, at home. Offer her the bribe if you really want her to stop.  She may take you up on it.  :>)
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973741 tn?1342342773
By the way, I was a huge thumb sucker until around that age.  My mom offered me a dime a day not to do it.  I took her dimes and was ready to stop anyway.  She may be more ready than you think but need you to help her along rather than her sister.  Best of luck to you dear.
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973741 tn?1342342773
Hm.  Here is the thing though, any child that goes to school and self soothes orally by sucking their thumb----  well, it becomes an issue.  There was one child in my son's first grade class that sucked her thumb in school and the kids were not nice about it.  

I'd institute a policy kind of like the paci as kids get older.  Only in your room at home.  

And then find age appropriate substitutes for her such as you mention with gum.  In school, they use things like coffee stirrers or they make various things that go on the end of a pencil.  

I just say this because I have a six year old as well----  things at home don't always fly in school and do get socially awkward.  Thumb sucking in school falls into that category.  

good luck.  It is hard for sure!
Helpful - 0
535822 tn?1443976780
I would say back off it sounds like whilst you were out of the country she may have been more nervous and missing you, and lets face it older sis likes to boss younger ones. In my opinion ;least said the better , sometimes the more is made of something the more it will become ...Let her suck her thumb. I twirled my hair ..I think I am okay ..lol but who knows ..if you served in the Military ..thank you for your service .  
Helpful - 0
1548028 tn?1324612446
I have a friend and all three girls sucked their thumb until they were 10 or 11.  My friend did too!  She said it was very soothing and they would eventually just stop.  I don't know that you can stop it.  Some people bite their nails, others read, twirl their hair, I think we all have something we do.  Sorry, I wish I could be of more help.  
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377493 tn?1356502149
I guess I'm not certain I would try to stop her at all.  It's a self soothing thing she does.  I have a thumb sucker as well (he is only 2) and did ask my Pedi about it.  She said it's just not true that it causes issues with teeth, etc., and that there is no reason to stop them at all.  I would assume the same holds true for an older child.  I have a cousin that sucked her thumb (same as your daughter, only when home, mostly at night) until she was 10 or so.  She eventually just stopped.
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