Advice on toddler sucking thumb scraping tip of nose

[SB75]

Hello

My 20 month old toddler who sucks his thumb has recently taken to picking the skin on the tip of his nose, scraping it and causing it to bleed.We've cut his nails right down and have resorted to making him wear a plaster over it when he sleeps as gloves did not work.

Any advice? Also, we are unsure as to what age we should start to wean him off the thumb...and any tips on how to go about it please.

We were initially thinking around 2 when he'll hopefully be able to talk more and have a better understanding, but now that he is damaging his nose, we are not sure whether we should start trying now...

Any tips and advice would be ever so helpful. Thanks

:)

[Passiflora]

I would start trying now to combat the thumb sucking and nose scratching. I wouldn't use a plaster on a 20 month old when sleeping as it's a choking hazard! but can understand you would try anything!

[Mrs Nice]

Hi. Could you tell when does he starts picking on his skin? Is it when he is upset, tired or bored? Look for these signs early as if it continues, he may be developing what is called ADD/ADHD. If it persists , have him seen by a doctor.

With the thumbsucking issue - there is no better time than ASAP. Be firm and hold your heart strong. As I refused to let both my girls suck their thumb I gave them dummies - they are 2 and 1 year olds - and 3 days now - we have a dummy free house ! I just stayed strong and stood my ground. And it magically stopped... I was one of the lucky ones who got out unscratched.

Goodluck to the weaning and I hope your son's skin picking get sorted.

[Saffron]

I would not have personally seen an overnight plaster as a choking hazard. I guess the risk depends on what type of plaster you're using. If the plaster is firmly fixed, then the likelihood of it becoming dislodged is minimal. I would be more concerned about the irritation the adhesive could cause, being applied nightly for more than a few nights.

Twenty months is far too young for an ADD/ADHD diagnosis, the main characteristics of which are inattention and impulsivity. It is completely normal to exhibit self-soothing behaviours, or to seek comfort, when young children are upset, tired or bored. Unless the skin is infected, thumb-sucking isn't a medical issue so no point seeing a doctor.

If the thumb-sucking is problem for you and your LO, then the weight of the argument seems to suggest acting sooner rather than later. Can you substitute a 'lovey' for the thumb-sucking? Good luck. xx

[esme]

It sounds like a habit like any other to me, so for some it's finger or dummy sucking (similar to comfort they got when breast or bottle feeding) so I'd try a comfort blanket or toy of some sort to wean on to something else - at the end of the day they grow out of everything once they can talk as you say, so try not to worry too much. My eldest sucked his fingers til he was 4(!) and my youngest had a dummy, until I did away with it after he had his tonsils out as too much risk of infection afterwards. Surprisingly he was okay with it when I explained and just gave him a bottle of milk at night for comfort, worked a treat. Good luck!