Thumb sucking and illness(a little long, sorry)

Let me start by saying they think DD has Whooping Cough(thats another post)
She is 8 years old and still sucks her fingers(ring and middle, like a bowling ball ) I have tried every remedey they sell to put on her fingers, reward charts, punishment, you name it. She can not/will not stop. She is tormented by this and at times wants to stop so badly, she cries and begs me to help her but it never lasts. Other times she has no desire to stop. I spend my day saying, "Jordan your fingers" 900 times. She does not do it at school(according to her and the teacher)
Anyway, she is sick ALL the time, it is rediculous aleady. I am so frustrated and I feel terrible for her. Just remember that thumb/finger sucking is cute as a baby, but there are reprocussions and we are paying in spades. She has had everything, rotovirus, coxsacci twice, strep more times than I can count, roseola, you name and she has had it at least once if not more. I feel so helpless at this point and I do not know what else I could have done. She did have a binky until she was 1(she also sucked her fingers anyway). Maybe I should have let her keep it longer, who knows? Now DD#2 is a thumb sucker and I am afraid that I am doomed to more of the same. I am going to research new remedies asap. Anyone have any ideas or input?
Really I am just venting and sharing,, so thanks!

Re: Thumb sucking and illness(a little long, sorry)

My mom tried everything she could to get my sister to stop sucking her thumb...you know when she did? When she got a serious boyfriend at 22

I don't remember my sister being any more sick than the rest of us...but my cousin (who is also a thumb sucker) used to be sick all the time. Basically the ped said that warm moist areas are the breeding ground for bacteria and that's exactly what his thumb was. He didn't stop until he was an adult either.

Re: Thumb sucking and illness(a little long, sorry)

I'm right there with you. Maddie is sick often & sucks her thumb too. She's better at times & the stuff on her thumb does dissuade her.

I don't have any advice for you, except to keep reminding her & keep her hands busy. As for your little one, I'd start putting that awful stuff on her thumb now to break the habit sooner rather than later.

Maddie just lost her first tooth. In my mind, it's game time if her adult teeth have any chance of being straight.

Re: Thumb sucking and illness(a little long, sorry)

Did you have the "germ talk" with her?
She's 8 so she would understand that everythign she touches has germs and the germs could potentially harm her....
If you ahvent't yt maybe you can stress to her how "germy" everything we touch can be...lol

Re: Thumb sucking and illness(a little long, sorry)

Posted by merri221

My mom tried everything she could to get my sister to stop sucking her thumb...you know when she did? When she got a serious boyfriend at 22

I don't remember my sister being any more sick than the rest of us...but my cousin (who is also a thumb sucker) used to be sick all the time. Basically the ped said that warm moist areas are the breeding ground for bacteria and that's exactly what his thumb was. He didn't stop until he was an adult either.

Re: Thumb sucking and illness(a little long, sorry)

Message edited 6/18/2009 1:34:27 PM.