My 4-year-old is still sucking her thumb, especially when she's tired or watching cartoons. I've tried the whole gentle reminder thing, but honestly, it's like talking to a wall. My mom suggested putting something bitter on her thumb, but that feels kinda harsh to me. And I've heard some people say it's no big deal, she'll grow out of it eventually, but then others are like "nooo, it'll mess up her teeth and you'll end up spending a fortune at the dentist." So now I'm stuck between feeling guilty for not doing enough and feeling guilty for maybe being too pushy about it.
Has anyone actually talked to a dentist about this? Like, is it really that big of a deal at her age, or am I overthinking it? Also, if you have any tricks that worked for your kid (besides bribery, lol, already tried that), please share. I'm at my wit's end here.
I totally get why you're feeling torn about this—parenting guilt is real. Have you actually asked your dentist directly about it yet? Mine said thumb-sucking at 4 isn't usually a huge deal unless it's constant and intense. My niece sucked her thumb until she was almost 6, and her teeth turned out fine. Maybe try not to stress too much...kids often drop habits when they're ready, not when we are, lol. Hang in there, you're doing great.
Totally agree with you on the parenting guilt—it's so easy to spiral into worry mode. My dentist said something similar, that thumb-sucking isn't usually a big deal unless it's super intense or constant. But honestly, I still stressed about it anyway, lol. We ended up trying a reward chart, and it actually worked pretty well after a few weeks. Every kid's different though, so don't beat yourself up if it takes time...you're definitely not alone in this struggle.
I feel you on the guilt thing—been there myself. My orthodontist mentioned that thumb-sucking usually isn't a huge issue unless it goes on for years or is really intense. Still, I worried about it constantly, especially since my kid was pretty stubborn about stopping. We ended up using those bitter-tasting nail polishes, and surprisingly, it helped break the habit after a couple weeks. But yeah, every kid responds differently, so hang in there...you're definitely not alone in this!
I totally get the anxiety around this. My daughter sucked her thumb until she was almost five, and I remember feeling exactly the same way—caught between worrying too much and not doing enough. Our dentist explained that thumb-sucking at four isn't usually a major concern unless it's constant or really forceful, because that's when it can start affecting teeth alignment or jaw development. But even then, he said most kids naturally stop before it becomes a serious issue.
We tried the bitter nail polish stuff too, but my daughter just powered through it (stubborn kid, lol). What finally worked for us was giving her something else comforting to hold onto during those tired or bored moments—like a special stuffed animal or blanket. It didn't stop overnight, but gradually she started reaching for that instead of her thumb. Every kid is different though, so don't beat yourself up if one method doesn't click right away. You're definitely not alone in this struggle.
