Anyone used thumbguard?

[supergolden88]

If so can you let me know what your experience was and whether it was effective in stopping thumb sucking?

My daughter has recently turned 5 and still sucks her thumb at night to help her fall asleep. In fact she has told us she doesn't know how to fall asleep without it.

I really think she should stop sucking her thumb before she starts losing her baby teeth. She has a big gap between her front two teeth and I think they are slightly pushed out too - whether due to thumb sucking or just genetics I am not sure.

Thumguard is expesive though and I am really unsure about purchasing it

thanks!

[Goodliz]

I don't have experience of this but just used the stuff you can get to stop biting your nails. This worked first time on my oldest son who was very attached to sucking his thumb. I tasted it when he did and it was revolting.

[supergolden88]

hmmm I guess I could try that first. My daughter tends to get overly emotional so I am expecting this to turn into a huge drama no matter which way we go about it.

She is also very very attached to the thumb sucking (only at night) so it's going to be hard.

do you get it in boots?

[sophiechristophy]

Supergolden88 - just wondered why you wanted her to stop sucking her thumb?

[Donkey]

I used thumbguard with my 4 yr old daughter and it worked brilliantly. We had two goes at it - the first time we stopped too soon and she started sucking her thumb again. But we started again a few weeks later and after the recommended 4 weeks she stopped completely. She did actually want to stop which I think was crucial.

[Saffron]

Agreed, *wanting* to stop is crucial. If you try to break thumbsucking when the child doesn't really want to give it up, you will very likely see either a rebound in thumbsucking later, or the transfer of thumbsucking to some other behaviour.

Have you thought about having a few sessions with a child psychologist? You say you want your daughter to stop thumbsucking b/c of dental concerns. But, if you make a dramatic intervention on a sensitive child, you may be sparing her teeth at the cost of her emotional well-being.

And, are you completely sure the thumbsucking IS affecting the teeth? If she's only thumbsucking to fall asleep, that's actually very little time with a thumb in the mouth.

(On the stuff for stopping nail-biting: Didn't work on me or my girl friend when our parents tried it on us years ago. I'm guessing it's probably no good for a very determined child, or where the behaviour has taken on a stereotypic dimension.)

[Fuschia]

It would probsbly do no harm to

Introduce some Other comfort items/ sleep

Cues if not in use already

[supergolden88]

She wants to stop but can't do it on her own. She has asked us to buy her something to help her stop. I will look into the thumb guard after taking her to the dentist. But I just realised the reason behind her really gappy front teeth (attached and very thick upper lip frenulum) which merits another thread all on it's own :(

edit to add that she is a very bubbly and super confident little girl. She had stopped sucking her thumb but I think started it up again at night when her little brother arrived in November and we started having shorter bedtimes /slightly chaotic bedtimes.

I have now made a dental appointment ( I know I should have taken her to a dentist a lot sooner but she was so reluctant and we never got round to it. Kicking myself now).

[Fidgetsmum]

My friend is using thumbguard at the moment having tried other avenues and so far, so good. It's expensive, but she says completely worth it.

[Saffron]

SG88, try booking a double appointment at the dentist, for yourself and her. She can sit on your lap and 'help' the dentist when you have your teeth examined. Then when it's her turn, you sit next to her and hold her hand. (My sister-in-law is a denstist. She says this really helps a lot of children.)

On the gappy teeth front, Little Saff also has an attached upper frenulum. I have the impression this is more common than people realise. If it's not affecting her speech by this age, it's probably not a big deal. It may resolve on it's own, or a dentist can do a very simple snip. Or, you can leave it as is. Isn't there an old wives' tale about a gap in the front teeth leading to wealth and prosperity? :)

[supergolden88]

she has a very slight lisp (only some words) possibly because of the gap in the teeth. But the frenulum will definitely not resolve on it's own - it is very thick. I think if she were to have the snip it may have to be when she is older and she will probably need braces too. Lets see what the dentist says.

Am more concerned that it seems to be pulling on her gums - she cannot uncover her top teeth shen she smiles. I am just amazed not to have realised this sooner.

[Saffron]

Yes, that does sound like she'll have to have laser ablation or similar. Good luck at the dentist, and good luck with the thumbguard. xxl

[Goodliz]

supergolden88 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> hmmm I guess I could try that first. My daughter

> tends to get overly emotional so I am expecting

> this to turn into a huge drama no matter which way

> we go about it.

>

> She is also very very attached to the thumb

> sucking (only at night) so it's going to be hard.

>

>

> do you get it in boots?

I think I got it in Sainsbury's or just a regular chemist.

[mima08]

Hiya, just to put my two pennies worth in: I have no experience with thumbguard, but I did suck my thumb till I was 7 and ended up with top teeth pushed out & bottom teeth pushed in, always wished my parents had somehow stopped me....

[supergolden88]

Went to dentist and first thing he said without me mentioning it is 'she sucks her thumb, needs to stop'.

He suggested that the frenum issue may even improve if she stops sucking her thumb and her jaw 'drops' and develops properly. I don't see that happening but am now determined to put a stop to the thumb sucking.

Will investigate thumbguard buying ASAP

[Saffron]

What does the NHS recommend to help stop thumb-sucking in older children? I know the ADA/APD do not support the use of putting bitter tasting substances on the child's nails/hands. Their guidelines suggest that using a physical block is better. They also suggest if the child is older, to involve them in the processes of helping to select methods to stop thumb-sucking. If you haven't already ordered your LO's thumb guard, maybe talk about it with her. Show her online what it is, and then make a big fuss when it arrives in the post? xx

[supergolden88]

Oh yes I am waiting till she returns from park to show her the website and order it with her.

She also chose (the most hideous and frankly scary) victorian type doll from St Christopher's Hospice as the 'well done' present for going to dentist which she was dreading and hopefully will work as incentive for stopping thumb sucking too

[damzel]

Did the thumb guard work? My daughter sucks her thumb out of habit. She doesn't want to anymore and wants something to help so am considering it. They are expensive tho. Shame they aren't pink!

[hellosailor]

my mum put thumb guard on my thumb when I was a child, I would suck it until the taste was gone which only took a few minutes, it seemed worth a few minutes of the disgusting taste to get my thumb back at the end, if you see what I mean! But maybe it is even more foul tasting nowadays!