THUMB

This girl loves to suck her thumb; she started around five months old. I knew she had a good sucking reflex moments after she was delivered … A held her up to my head as my hands were strapped down on the operating room table.  Her tiny lips found mine and she started sucking the corner of my mouth.  Hard.  It was nearly impossible to break that seal when it was time for the doctors to take her away for her newborn assessment. A small little hickey remained on my face for those first photos as a family of four. 

AA sucks her thumb when she's tired (or in trouble).  She definitely sucks it before she falls asleep, but often will start thumb sucking during bedtime stories or prayers.  Or during quiet time.  It's her way to unwind (and a nice break from the whining for the rest of us at times!).  We've been talking about quitting thumb sucking for awhile now.  Over the last six months, she's definitely become aware of her day time sucking … she'll often ask me if she can suck her thumb.  But we haven't been consistent in telling her to stop.  Over the past month, we've started the bribes.  She called Uncle J to find out how he stopped; he promised her a trip to a nearby waterpark when she stops.  Her dentist promised to mail her a present when I call in with the report of her stopping, and A and I have talked about letting her choose a family outing.

But this quitting thing is hard.  It's much more than just telling her to stop.  I really don't want to resort to the nasty flavored polish (though I still may need to!) so I did my homework and found this thumb guard.  This $40 piece of BPA-free plastic works "98% of the time"  (please don't ask for A's comment about the other 2%!).  It's a flexible band that still allows her to get to her thumb - but she won't be able to create suction.  Suction, according to my research, is where the addiction comes from.  The guard is snapped in place with disposable bracelets (she chooses a color each night, snaps it on, and then I cut it off with a scissors in the morning.)

The thumb guard kit arrived in the mail when Grandpa T was here.  Grandpa T had a great talk with AA about addiction - I overheard him telling her that the only way she was going to quit was if she truly wanted to quit.  He asked her if now was the time.  He asked her why she wanted to quit.  

AA was so excited to put on the thumb guard for the first time.  I was certain she'd wake up in the middle of the night and shout out for me.  Instead, she came running in my room the next morning with the guard still in place shouting "You know, it really is hard to make my bed with this thing on my thumb."  Victory.

And then came night #2.  She cried when it was bedtime and didn't want to put it on.  She was tired and had her teddy and blanket in hand - she was definitely missing her thumb.  Same thing for night #3.  

By night #4 I felt so bad for her so I told her she didn't need to wear it.  I had caved.  Moments later, I felt like I had quit on her.  She had been working so hard on this, and I was too weak to give her yet another pep talk.  

This was six nights ago.  Since this time, I've been going full steam on this.  We continue to talk about the rewards at the end, but we also talk about her strength and determination each day.  We talk about conscious and subconscious behaviors in a four year old way (we need to trick your brain so you don't start sucking in the middle of the night).  I've changed up our bedtime routine to  try and break the association of thumb sucking with bedtime cues.  I make sure she is exhausted when it is bed time so she quickly falls asleep on her own.  The last two nights have gone really well.  I haven't even seen her sucking in the day.  

The "98% success rate" is after a 30 day use.  Since my recommittal, it's been 6.  She can do this.  We can do this.  

(And here's to hoping she chooses a shopping trip for her family outing!)