This blog has been written by Jo and it’s about giving up sucking with Thumbsie®.
Jo is a mother of three daughters and founder of Thumbsie Ltd. Thumbsie® was created from a real need that presented itself when her third daughter, tried to give up thumb sucking.
They took Isabel’s dummy away at the age of 3 and thought that she would be fine and no longer need to suck, just as her sisters had done – but unfortunately she started to thumb suck instead and it became a real habit!
They had considered all the other products out there: nasty tasting nail polish, plasters and even the expensive plastic thumb guards but none of them appealed. Jo created a fabric thumb sucking glove from some fabric that Isabel chose. This was the only thing that worked for Isabel and their lives have all been happier since.
Jo felt that if they were having problems finding a kind, positive solution than maybe other parents were too so Thumbsie® was launched; dedicated to helping children to stop thumb and finger sucking in a positive way.
Thumb or finger sucking is a very natural habit in young children; sucking on thumbs, fingers and dummies is a source of comfort for babies and children. There are even images of babies sucking digits in the womb – perhaps your child is one of those! The habit can also kick in when children are bored, tired or anxious; by and large it’s a problem free source of reassurance.
Most children stop sucking by the time they are 4 or 5 years of age, and this normally happens quite naturally without too much encouragement. However once adult teeth begin to appear, you may be concerned that digit sucking is becoming harmful. So, what are the long-term effects if children don’t stop sucking?
The long term effects of thumb sucking
When thumb or finger sucking starts (normally from birth) a baby’s bones are very soft and still forming. This means that the soft palate is constantly pushed upward by the thumb or finger and can become malformed. Alarmingly, if continued for a long time, the habit can also change the growth of the face and it can cause the collapse of the upper jaw. It stops the teeth from biting together at the front, this can then lead to other problems; most commonly the upper front teeth being prominent which in turn affects speech and the bit of the teeth.
By the time a child starts school, thumb or finger sucking may cause other problems like social anxiety and embarrassment, and a fear of being thought of as ‘babyish’ by older children. Children who suck their fingers or thumb in class often lose concentration and ‘zone out’; they stop when reminded by staff, but the cycle normally quickly repeats itself.
Stop The Thumb Sucking Habit with Thumbsie®
Thumb or finger sucking can be a very hard habit to break, and one that often takes patience, encouragement and time to conquer. It can help to identify the times when your child is most likely to start sucking, then you can decide what method of intervention you choose to support them during those periods.
There are various types of intervention such as, applying plasters and bandaging digits; applying a foul-tasting liquid to the nail; wearing a plastic thumb guard or a crochet thumb guard. And there is the Thumbsie®, a fabric thumb guard which fits perfectly around a child’s hand to gently help them to give up sucking.
Thumbsie® produce a reward chart, accompanying children’s book and there is a free success certificate for every child who stops sucking. Our parent testimonials and some of the success stories on the blog pages on the website tell us that it’s often a happy experience for both parent and child.
You may wish to try some of the other methods mentioned, or indeed already have. We believe that wearing a Thumbsie® is the most effective and gentle way to stop sucking. Order from the great range of fabrics on offer now and make tomorrow the first ‘suck-free’ day
For more advice on thumb and finger sucking go to: www.thumbsie.co.uk to find us. See lots of our happy customers on social media.
Facebook – Jo.Thumbsie
Instagram – @jothumbsie
Twitter – @thethumbsie
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