My son is 4 and1/2 years old and he is still sucking his thumb. This usually happens at night although he sometimes suck it during the day. I don't think that this is as a result of hunger because sometimes immediately after a meal he sucks his thumb. Strangely, he attends kindergarden and while at school he will never suck his thumb. Is there anyone that can advise or be of some assistance because I think that I have tried every thing

Hi Kisss,

Son had the same problem, its like a comfort to them, just as if a blanket is too a baby. He was aware of it enough not to do it at school in kindergarten either. The dentists have an appliance they put on tops of the mouths that prevents the sucking motion, it is too much of a hassle for them to try and breaks their habit.

Why would you even want him to stop sucking his thumb?The poor boy is only 4.Leave him be, he is still only a baby really, coming to terms with the big wide world out there.

My son is 5 and has a dummy at night occasionally, so what?

We try and make our kids grow up too soon, if sucking his thumb helps him, let him do it

Not trying to panick you but I stopped sucking my thumb when I was 13yrs old I have seen 20+ yr olds out on the street sucking their thumbs. It's just a comfort thing which he will grow out of. At school he has to be a miniture grown up so he's wont do it there but at home he is the baby (assumption) and the more you dwell on it is the longer he will do it for.

Why would you even want him to stop sucking his thumb?The poor boy is only 4.Leave him be, he is still only a baby really, coming to terms with the big wide world out there.

My son is 5 and has a dummy at night occasionally, so what?

We try and make our kids grow up too soon, if sucking his thumb helps him, let him do it


If a child sucks their thumb too much it can cause dental problems later on in child hood (it can push out their front teeth). Some kids even end up with braces because of it. I think of it more of something to save time and money down the road than making a child grow up before they are ready.

My daughter, who is 9, just had the dentist install a devise to keep her from sucking her thumb. It is like a retainer with a little grate thingy that hangs down and makes it very uncomfotable to suck the thumb. My daughter used to suck her thumb only at night and when she was bored, She has never sucked it at school. The appliance is called a habit reminder, and that is exactly what it is. My daughter said she didn't even realize how often she sucked her thumb until she got this. The cost can be anywhere from $100-$300, which is nothing compared to the cost of braces and facial jaw surgery they could need if they keep sucking their thumbs. My insurance paid for half of the $224, so I only paid $112 :)

Thumb sucking provides comfort, (to those with the habit) Somehow it makes them feel safe...... i dont quite know how it works.... i had such a bad habit, i didnt stop till like, 7:( theyre coming up with new device tho, like a rubber thumb-guard that keeps them safely away from their thumbs, you can get them at the dentist, but theyr not cheap. somehow putting band-aids in my thumb stopped me cold....... i dont know how that worked becaus the nasty tasting stuff didnt :eek:

I say leave him alone its a security thing. He wont do it in school. I sucked my thumb I swear until jr. high at night why I dont know. It never affected my teeth in any way either.i had no mental problems or anything else it was just something I did.