Monday, October 20, 2008

Thumbsuckers



Well I have ended up with 3 thumbsuckers.  I started with 2 and Lexie joined the club about 2 months ago.  (Not sure how that works but any way).  As cute as it may be, I am not thrilled about it.  I wish I could break them of it now!  I know, I know, everything I have read says not to try and break them of it, they will break themselves when they are ready.  I talked to their doctor and he said I could try if I want.  Has any one had any experience?  Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks everyone! 


Rylee
Maddox
Lexie
Shilah doesn't suck her thumb but I wanted to put a cute picture of her in any way!

10 comments:

Mary Anne Whiteley said...

I'm sorry to say that until they are older and ready for it, there isn't much you can do about it. I have one who sucked until almost _8_ years of age and was able to be bribed to stop at that point, and another that at almost 4 is still doing it as well. I'll wait a little longer and try the bribery technique. The one advantage is that if the child is dedicated to one thumb, it makes it easier to teach right and left. I had two three year olds who already knew right and left and many kids do not know it in Kindergarten, so that is one plus!

Emily said...

My Ethan is a hard core thumb sucker too. I went to the pharmacy at Walmart and asked them for "Thum." It is over the counter but you have to ask for it. It is only a couple dollars. It is in a little fingernail polish looking bottle. It has cayenne pepper and other stuff in it. I tried it before I put it on his thumb. It is really hot stuff. Unfortunately, he just sucked it right off. It doesn't hurt them. I gave up once I saw that he didn't care. He is starting to do it less now. Maybe you will get lucky and the "Thum" will work for you. Good Luck!

T said...

As a 28 year old finger sucker, I would give just about anything for my parents to really have worked at breaking the habit when I was a young child.

Unknown said...

I have no idea how to stop thumb sucking, but those sure are adorable pictures!

Anonymous said...

Hi Arnold Family !

We love the snow but I am sorry it hit earlier then usual for your family this year ! Where do you guys live? We are a quintuplet family living in southern Colorado and love it! As you can see from my blog, I also have two older girls who were the same age when our HOM were born as yours are! I hope things with the thumb sucking improve and you don't have to resort to a "thumb sucking device" like we had to with our five year olds! Good Luck and God Bless !

Rick and Jenn Payne said...

Hi! I found your blog through Andria's blog "Our three wild ones". Your kiddos are too cute! About the whole thumbsucking thing...I was worried that Griffin was going to be a thumb sucker but he stopped (for now anyway). I asked my doctor about it and he said to be sure to have a "Lovey" to use when the thumb-sucking takes place. (Stuffed animal or blanket) Anyway, when they start sucking their thumb...say OH wait just a minute let me get your lovey. Do that EVERY TIME and then they will have to have their lovey in order to do it. Slowly, you start taking the lovey away. I don't know about this technique...I'm a little questionable about it, but my doctor felt that a Lovey was a whole lot better than a thumb sucker. I'm just wandering how in the world am I supposed to lose the Lovey? He went on to say that when they get older and are still sucking their thumb...let them know its inappropriate...and then tell them if they want to suck their thumb then they need to go in their room to do it privately. Let them know it's very inappropriate to do this around others. I really wandered about this technique but I told my friend about it and after three months of doing this continuously...her 10 year old has stopped sucking her thumb. Hope I didn't ramble too much...just thought I would pass this along. Now remember...I have no experience with this...and can't say one way or the other if it will work. Let me know what you end up trying. Love, Jenn momma of the herd

Her Royal Highness said...

Optimus Prime was a thumb sucker. I don't really remember how we broke him of that habit, except I remember tying socks onto his hands at night and then during the day just pulling his thumb out of his mouth and telling him to knock it off. I believe Popeye told him that his thumb was going to fall off if he continued....
He doesn't suck it anymore, so I don't know what worked.
Princess Monkey Eyes is a finger sucker still & only does it during veg time. It bugs me to no end!!!
I need to break her of that habit, but she's as stubborn as her mother.
Good luck!

Moni Graf said...

Hey Arnold Family,
Wish I had some profound words of wisdom or great advice on thumbsucking, but alas, I do not. Cute pictures, anyway!

I can't believe you guys have had that much snow already! At first, I thought you were posting pics from last year. Crazy.

I hope you don't mind, but I FINALLY got around to adding new multiples families to my blogroll, and you're on there now. I love keeping up with my multiples blog friends!

Love from KS,
Moni

jag said...

I can only speak from the thumb sucker's perspective. I was heck bent on sucking my thumb. Even spikes in my mouth couldn't stop me. However, I wish I could have cut it out sooner. There were years of orthodontia! Now, I see some of my quads tryig their hand at it (pun intended), and I don't know what to do about it. Let me know if you come up with an answer. Good luck!

Lisa & Gerald said...

Too Cute ! have fun with them !