So the sock on Braden's hand did not keep him from sucking his thumb. We taped the sock to his shirt sleeve so that he couldn't get it off of his hand, and we would find him in his bed in the morning with his shirt off and his thumb in his mouth.
I talked to my friend Emily about it, and she told me about her friend who taught her 18-month-old baby how to take a binky. With my stubborn boy, I thought there was no way this could happen for me.
With low hopes, I started keeping a binky in his bed and one in the car, which were the two places he seemed to suck his thumb the most. For about a week now, I've been sitting with him as he goes to sleep at night and for naps, and I won't let him suck his thumb, but I let him suck on a binky. And in the car when he sucks his thumb, I hand him a binky to put in his mouth.
I looked in my rearview mirror and saw this today:
He is not completely off the thumb - I still catch him sucking it sometimes. But I think we are making progress. Giving him an alternative instead of making him stop sucking altogether has been working better for me and for him. He's not fighting me all of the time like he started to with the sock.
I am hopeful that he won't turn into his almost 6-year-old thumbsucking sister. We are working with her too. She really wants to stop. So soon we may be a thumbsucker-free household.
7 comments:
Look at how big he is! How can you get upset at a face like that... I would have a hard time not giving into him. At least you are making progress.
We are working on this same thing right now for our 5 year old at our house! I finally got a dentist involved to kind of scare him into the real facts of what could happen if he doesn't stop. We are one week into no thumb sucking because of a sock on the hand and a sticker chart. Nothing has worked so far, until I got that dentist involved! I'm determined to make it stick this time! ! I had to do something now, because the younger ones are starting to do it just because they see him and assume that they are supposed to put their fingers in their mouth for some reason. Isn't it a pain?! Good job on coming up with a solution that works for both of you.
Caleb loves sucking on his fingers. Sometimes he'll actually stop nursing to suck on his fingers for a few seconds and then go back to nursing. You've got me thinking that I should probably try to nip it in the bud, though. Thanks for the warning!
Oh that is so hard!! Good luck! I guess that's totally true about them being able to break free from a pacifier easier than fingers. I wouldn't have even thought of that. Very smart.
Go Emily! My baby just found her thumb. Arrggg! I just keep giving her the pacifier. I am not giving up this time!!! I should probably give my 3 year old a pacifier. He has that darn thumb in his mouth ALL the time!!
I love all the pictures of William's random sleeping places.. so cute! Thumbs are hard because you can't take them away. I'm really glad this is working! Good luck!
Hi Emily. My name is Kevin Bowman (39, Las Vegas, musician). My girlfriend of 3.5 years, whom I will marry if I am that lucky, is also named Emily! I just had to say hi & don't be surprised when our profiles start getting crossed up;) Great family.
Kevin Bowman
PS (My blog has no followers, just me letting off steam so it has adult language & themes. Just fyi so as not to offend, but I had to say hi)
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