Operation Quit Thumb Sucking: Attempt 1- Day time

Gosh, it doesn't feel like it has been 6 months since our last dentist appointment, but alas, we were back getting the kids' teeth cleaned.  Evie has always done a fabulous job at the dentist.  This year she elected to sit all by herself in the chair instead of on my lap like the past visits.

I questioned Dr. Mohler about how much damage Evie has done to her bite by sucking her thumb still regularly at 4.5.  Her mouth wasn't too bad, yet, but he followed up with an email to Jason and I about the long term concerns dentists are seeing with thumb suckers, things like sleep apnea.  He suggested something new to him called a Thumbguard.

I did a little research on it and it sounds like parents have been having success with it.  Let me start off by saying that we have done NOTHING to stop Evie's thumb sucking: no horrible tasting polish on it, lovies taken away, etc.  Honestly, I didn't feel like the battle.  Bad parenting, I know.  But it's time we face it.

So I showed Evie what could be her "bracelet"

We had a short talk about how Dr. Mohler said she has to stop sucking her thumb or she'll need to wear to help her break the habit.  She told me she would stop on her own.  Ok, girl, whatever works!  So we made a deal, I will not order one if she can stop sucking her thumb during the day.  She is allowed to use her thumb while in her room reading books and going to bed.

We are 4 days in and Evie has kept up her end of the deal!  I am so proud of her!!  TV time and car riding time are the hardest for her.  She holds a toy or eats to help keep her mind off her thumb (maybe this will help her gain weight too!).  She is dying for her thumb by the end of the day, which is fine with me.  She doesn't sleep with it all night, just to get to sleep.  Day time is a huge start for her.

Doing her best to keep it out during
TV shows.

As a thumb sucker until the age of 7, I know how difficult it is to stop.  As my dad said, I needed to have "mental toughness".  Praying my girl can beat this habit before she starts elementary school!