Any ideas to stop thumb sucking?
mommyquilter2000
Does anyone have any ideas to stop thumb sucking? My daughter will
be five in a couple of months and she is still sucking her thumb. It
has already given her an open bite, but the dentist told us if she
stops before age 6(around the time permanent teeth will start to come
in)it can correct itself. I know I have probably more than a year,
but that is how I felt two years ago and we haven't made any
progress. She is okay wih wearing a bandaid during the day and this
stops her, but she needs her thumb at night. Dh is trying to enforce
too much at once. He basically is trying to make her go cold turkey
and I don't think this will work. Ds had a pacifier until 17 months
when I put him in daycare for 7 months. They suggested I try to get
him to give it up, due to other children possibly sharing it with
him. I took the pacifier away cold turkey and he proceeded to bite
his finger nails for two years.
I should mention that because she sucks her thumb she also seems to
get sick more often. We try to wash her hands often to avoid this
transfer of germs, but sometimes we are not quick enough. She is
prone to respiratory problems, which often include a trip to the ER,
when she gets sick. So this issue is also for her health as well as
dental care.
Please help,
Kerry
be five in a couple of months and she is still sucking her thumb. It
has already given her an open bite, but the dentist told us if she
stops before age 6(around the time permanent teeth will start to come
in)it can correct itself. I know I have probably more than a year,
but that is how I felt two years ago and we haven't made any
progress. She is okay wih wearing a bandaid during the day and this
stops her, but she needs her thumb at night. Dh is trying to enforce
too much at once. He basically is trying to make her go cold turkey
and I don't think this will work. Ds had a pacifier until 17 months
when I put him in daycare for 7 months. They suggested I try to get
him to give it up, due to other children possibly sharing it with
him. I took the pacifier away cold turkey and he proceeded to bite
his finger nails for two years.
I should mention that because she sucks her thumb she also seems to
get sick more often. We try to wash her hands often to avoid this
transfer of germs, but sometimes we are not quick enough. She is
prone to respiratory problems, which often include a trip to the ER,
when she gets sick. So this issue is also for her health as well as
dental care.
Please help,
Kerry
[email protected]
> I should mention that because she sucks her thumb she also seems toThumbsucking doesn't really have anything to do with illness. She is exposed to the germs that are around her 24/7 sticking her thumb in her mouth isn't going to make the germs any less there. The human mouth is a filthy thing in its own right. Kids are sticking things in their mouths all the time, not just their thumbs. Most respiratory illnesses are passed through airborne bacteri and virii.
> get sick more often. We try to wash her hands often to avoid this
> transfer of germs, but sometimes we are not quick enough.
Have you talked to her in a nonsensical manner about why thumbsucking can cause her teeth to shift? Some kids react well to just knowing *why* they should or shouldn't do something. For instance handwashing after one goes potty never sunk in with my middle child until we talked about (in a very scientific manner) the kinds of germs and waste that she was exposed to when she went potty. Also, what are the chances that she would need braces anyway? Did you or her father need braces? Could her thumbsucking be coincidental to what her teeth would do anyway? I'm not saying just let her suck her thumb and deal with the consequences later, but it may be a moot point if she is a candidate for braces anyway. Another thought is that I have known quite a few kids who just naturally stopped sucking their thumbs when their front teeth started becoming loose. It was too uncomfortable and by the time those front four teeth had finally all come out they were out of the habit.
Just food for thought
Michelle
Ren Allen
"Does anyone have any ideas to stop thumb sucking? My daughter will
be five in a couple of months and she is still sucking her thumb. It
has already given her an open bite, but the dentist told us if she
stops before age 6(around the time permanent teeth will start to come
in)it can correct itself."
You aren't listening to the "experts" that say your child should be
in school, but you're going to trust a dentist over your child?
It's HER body. It's an abuse to force someone to stop doing that
which comforts them.
Worst case, you have to pay for some orthodontia later in life,
isn't that preferable to counseling? Children are SO disrespected in
this society, and this is one of the issues that really, really
bothers me.
Taking away a form of comfort is coldhearted at best.
Dentists often blame thumb sucking when that same child would have
had the EXACT same problems had they never sucked their thumbs.
My sister sucked her thumb until she was 12 y.o. and has PERFECT
teeth. My oldest ds sucked his thumb until around 11y.o. and has
beautiful teeth, probably won't need braces ever.
I stopped sucking fairly early and had braces for two years. So the
dentists don't know as much as they think they do.
Listen to your child, not some expert. You are hurting her by trying
to control her body. You are only going to harm your relationship
with her in the end, she WILL suck her thumb, but instead of feeling
comfortable, she'll feel shame. You can't control another human
being, only make them ACT like they're doing what you want. Behind
your back she'll continue to suck her thumb.
I happen to know of an adult that is 34 years old, was shamed for
sucking her thumb so does it in secret to this day. Forcing children
to give up things before they are ready on their own, can cause
neurotic behavior later. yucky.
Thumb sucking is perfectly normal at that age and well beyond. Trust
your child....she knows exactly what she needs.
Ren
be five in a couple of months and she is still sucking her thumb. It
has already given her an open bite, but the dentist told us if she
stops before age 6(around the time permanent teeth will start to come
in)it can correct itself."
You aren't listening to the "experts" that say your child should be
in school, but you're going to trust a dentist over your child?
It's HER body. It's an abuse to force someone to stop doing that
which comforts them.
Worst case, you have to pay for some orthodontia later in life,
isn't that preferable to counseling? Children are SO disrespected in
this society, and this is one of the issues that really, really
bothers me.
Taking away a form of comfort is coldhearted at best.
Dentists often blame thumb sucking when that same child would have
had the EXACT same problems had they never sucked their thumbs.
My sister sucked her thumb until she was 12 y.o. and has PERFECT
teeth. My oldest ds sucked his thumb until around 11y.o. and has
beautiful teeth, probably won't need braces ever.
I stopped sucking fairly early and had braces for two years. So the
dentists don't know as much as they think they do.
Listen to your child, not some expert. You are hurting her by trying
to control her body. You are only going to harm your relationship
with her in the end, she WILL suck her thumb, but instead of feeling
comfortable, she'll feel shame. You can't control another human
being, only make them ACT like they're doing what you want. Behind
your back she'll continue to suck her thumb.
I happen to know of an adult that is 34 years old, was shamed for
sucking her thumb so does it in secret to this day. Forcing children
to give up things before they are ready on their own, can cause
neurotic behavior later. yucky.
Thumb sucking is perfectly normal at that age and well beyond. Trust
your child....she knows exactly what she needs.
Ren
Syndi
HI Kerry!
I did the thumb thing til I was 6, and just quit on my own. My
teeth are all ok, but I can still remember people giving me such a
hard time about it and not understanding WHY they did that bothered
me.
And this is off topic, but you mentioned you daughter getting sick
alot. I just have to ask if she has been checked for asthma? My DS
was 5 or 6 before I finally asked the doctor if that was what was
going on with him. Trips to ER from illness every winter.
Especially after being around his triggers. Something I didn't even
realize was going on! His symptoms were so minor, and no one at the
hospital ever said or asked or diagnosed him with asthma.
syndi
I did the thumb thing til I was 6, and just quit on my own. My
teeth are all ok, but I can still remember people giving me such a
hard time about it and not understanding WHY they did that bothered
me.
And this is off topic, but you mentioned you daughter getting sick
alot. I just have to ask if she has been checked for asthma? My DS
was 5 or 6 before I finally asked the doctor if that was what was
going on with him. Trips to ER from illness every winter.
Especially after being around his triggers. Something I didn't even
realize was going on! His symptoms were so minor, and no one at the
hospital ever said or asked or diagnosed him with asthma.
syndi
mommyquilter2000
Hi Syndi,
Yes, we have been told that she gets asthma when she gets a cold. My
son was just in the hospital for two days with this same ailment, his
first episode. We were vacationing out of state, when I recognized
the symptoms. I only was aware of them because of my daughter's
symptoms. The doctors in the ER told us that it is asthma-like and
not asthma, because they are too young to be diagnosed with asthma.
They then referred to it as a respiratory disorder. So you can seen
with them both being prone to it I now want to avoid as many cold
virus' as possible. This episode with my son was vey scary. We were
transported from his doctor's office via ambulance to the hospital.
We were told they could outgrow these episodes. That's what we are
hoping for as ds already has a severe nut allergy and we already
worry about not outgrowing that.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Kerry
Yes, we have been told that she gets asthma when she gets a cold. My
son was just in the hospital for two days with this same ailment, his
first episode. We were vacationing out of state, when I recognized
the symptoms. I only was aware of them because of my daughter's
symptoms. The doctors in the ER told us that it is asthma-like and
not asthma, because they are too young to be diagnosed with asthma.
They then referred to it as a respiratory disorder. So you can seen
with them both being prone to it I now want to avoid as many cold
virus' as possible. This episode with my son was vey scary. We were
transported from his doctor's office via ambulance to the hospital.
We were told they could outgrow these episodes. That's what we are
hoping for as ds already has a severe nut allergy and we already
worry about not outgrowing that.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Kerry
liannemargaret
I know that in cities, asthma rates were becoming so high as to be
alarming, especially in infants and children, and pollution was
assumed to be the cause. 15 years ago, parents were becoming more
active in trying to eradicate things like city driving (at least here
in Toronto) in favour of public transit, bike programs, etc. They
even talked about shutting down main streets like Queen St W, to be
used for foot traffic only, or at least, make it a one way.
Now doctors will NOT diagnose it in children at all, even if they are
experencing all symptoms. My son, child of 2 asthmatic parents,
showed many symtoms, and gets wheezy whenever the pollution index is
high. He's been prescribed various bronchio-dilators, including
becloforte(?) and ventolin, but the doctor will only say "asthma-like
symptoms" and is very careful to not say "asthma". He cannot heal
fully from a cold without the aid of these drugs, yet he is "not
asthmatic"
(20 years ago, whenever I told a doctor I had asthma, the next
question was how often to you take ventolin)
I wonder how connected these things are, and whether in a few years
they'll announce how asthma is "barely existant any more, so please be
assured, pollution is not a problem." Perhaps eradicating asthma
itself is easier than addressing the root cause.
Just a thought, but then, I'm prone to paranoia.
Lianne (wolf's mum)
--- In [email protected], "mommyquilter2000"
<claddagh@c...> wrote:
alarming, especially in infants and children, and pollution was
assumed to be the cause. 15 years ago, parents were becoming more
active in trying to eradicate things like city driving (at least here
in Toronto) in favour of public transit, bike programs, etc. They
even talked about shutting down main streets like Queen St W, to be
used for foot traffic only, or at least, make it a one way.
Now doctors will NOT diagnose it in children at all, even if they are
experencing all symptoms. My son, child of 2 asthmatic parents,
showed many symtoms, and gets wheezy whenever the pollution index is
high. He's been prescribed various bronchio-dilators, including
becloforte(?) and ventolin, but the doctor will only say "asthma-like
symptoms" and is very careful to not say "asthma". He cannot heal
fully from a cold without the aid of these drugs, yet he is "not
asthmatic"
(20 years ago, whenever I told a doctor I had asthma, the next
question was how often to you take ventolin)
I wonder how connected these things are, and whether in a few years
they'll announce how asthma is "barely existant any more, so please be
assured, pollution is not a problem." Perhaps eradicating asthma
itself is easier than addressing the root cause.
Just a thought, but then, I'm prone to paranoia.
Lianne (wolf's mum)
--- In [email protected], "mommyquilter2000"
<claddagh@c...> wrote:
>My
> Hi Syndi,
>
> Yes, we have been told that she gets asthma when she gets a cold.
> son was just in the hospital for two days with this same ailment,his
> first episode. We were vacationing out of state, when I recognizedseen
> the symptoms. I only was aware of them because of my daughter's
> symptoms. The doctors in the ER told us that it is asthma-like and
> not asthma, because they are too young to be diagnosed with asthma.
> They then referred to it as a respiratory disorder. So you can
> with them both being prone to it I now want to avoid as many coldwere
> virus' as possible. This episode with my son was vey scary. We
> transported from his doctor's office via ambulance to the hospital.
> We were told they could outgrow these episodes. That's what we are
> hoping for as ds already has a severe nut allergy and we already
> worry about not outgrowing that.
>
> Thanks for the suggestion.
> Kerry
Syndi
OH boy I can feel for you with 2 having it! Kalebs 1st pediatrition
told me, like they told you, that it would be brought on by colds.
Then as he got older, turns out September is a very very bad month
for colds/asthma.
Kaleb is now 11.5 years old. And even tough this September we went
thru it all again, he made it thru without the hospital ! This is
the 1st year he's been able to do that, and got thru it without all
the meds. Ohh, I take that one back, we did have to do a round of
prednisone. Hopefully in a few more years he won't have any of it.
And I hope yours grow out of it also! I know how hard and scary it
can be.
Syndi
told me, like they told you, that it would be brought on by colds.
Then as he got older, turns out September is a very very bad month
for colds/asthma.
Kaleb is now 11.5 years old. And even tough this September we went
thru it all again, he made it thru without the hospital ! This is
the 1st year he's been able to do that, and got thru it without all
the meds. Ohh, I take that one back, we did have to do a round of
prednisone. Hopefully in a few more years he won't have any of it.
And I hope yours grow out of it also! I know how hard and scary it
can be.
Syndi
Wendy E
I sucked my thumb until I was 12 too....nothing wrong with my teeth
either.
Wendy
--- In [email protected], "Ren Allen"
<starsuncloud@n...> wrote:
either.
Wendy
--- In [email protected], "Ren Allen"
<starsuncloud@n...> wrote:
> My sister sucked her thumb until she was 12 y.o. and has PERFECTthe
> teeth. My oldest ds sucked his thumb until around 11y.o. and has
> beautiful teeth, probably won't need braces ever.
> I stopped sucking fairly early and had braces for two years. So
> dentists don't know as much as they think they do.trying
>
> Listen to your child, not some expert. You are hurting her by
> to control her body. You are only going to harm your relationshipfeeling
> with her in the end, she WILL suck her thumb, but instead of
> comfortable, she'll feel shame. You can't control another human
> being, only make them ACT like they're doing what you want. Behind
> your back she'll continue to suck her thumb.
Kiersten Pasciak
Lianne,
Be greatful the doctor isn't writing "asthma" on stuff.
Perhaps he is trying to do you a favor?
We have been turned down for several health insurance policies
because of my husband's asthma, even though it is mild and
controlled by an inhaler.
I also know from selling life insurance that your rates with most
companies will be higher if you disclose asthma.
Never thought about the angle that the doctors were trying to make
it seem like it isn't a problem with the environment. Hmmmmmmm.....
Kiersten
reply to the following:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Be greatful the doctor isn't writing "asthma" on stuff.
Perhaps he is trying to do you a favor?
We have been turned down for several health insurance policies
because of my husband's asthma, even though it is mild and
controlled by an inhaler.
I also know from selling life insurance that your rates with most
companies will be higher if you disclose asthma.
Never thought about the angle that the doctors were trying to make
it seem like it isn't a problem with the environment. Hmmmmmmm.....
Kiersten
reply to the following:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
> high. He's been prescribed various bronchio-dilators, includinglike
> becloforte(?) and ventolin, but the doctor will only say "asthma-
> symptoms" and is very careful to not say "asthma". He cannot healplease be
> fully from a cold without the aid of these drugs, yet he is "not
> asthmatic"
>
> (20 years ago, whenever I told a doctor I had asthma, the next
> question was how often to you take ventolin)
>
> I wonder how connected these things are, and whether in a few years
> they'll announce how asthma is "barely existant any more, so
> assured, pollution is not a problem." Perhaps eradicating asthma---------------------------------------------------------------
> itself is easier than addressing the root cause.
>
> Just a thought, but then, I'm prone to paranoia.
>
> Lianne (wolf's mum)
mamaaj2000
--- In [email protected], "liannemargaret"
<liannemargaret@y...> wrote:
one: http://allergies.about.com/b/a/111820.htm talking about how it's
the allergens in the house that cause the problem. I don't know
anything about it myself, but the article mentions things like
getting air filters and enclosing mattresses, so don't know if that
might help someone!
but I don't know what the reasoning is. Some doctors must be
diagnosing it if 7% of American kids have it!
--aj
<liannemargaret@y...> wrote:
>I googled "asthma inner city" and found a bunch of articles like this
> I know that in cities, asthma rates were becoming so high as to be
> alarming, especially in infants and children, and pollution was
> assumed to be the cause.
one: http://allergies.about.com/b/a/111820.htm talking about how it's
the allergens in the house that cause the problem. I don't know
anything about it myself, but the article mentions things like
getting air filters and enclosing mattresses, so don't know if that
might help someone!
> Now doctors will NOT diagnose it in children at all, even if theyare
> experencing all symptoms.I've seen docs do that with allergies of all sorts before age 2 or 3,
but I don't know what the reasoning is. Some doctors must be
diagnosing it if 7% of American kids have it!
--aj
pam sorooshian
On Oct 18, 2004, at 6:25 AM, Kiersten Pasciak wrote:
had to take medication for a few years, cut the medication at about 5
years old and used an inhaler occasionally and got nebulizer treatments
a few times when things got bad (after a cold). By 12 it was gone.
She's 19 now - no sign of asthma for years. Several pediatricians told
me that they were just referring to it as being "asthma-like" so that
would justify the treatment, but not label her as "asthmatic" because
they thought she might grow out of it (as she did) and we would not
want that label in her medical records forever.
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
> Be greatful the doctor isn't writing "asthma" on stuff.Yes. Roya had an "asthma-like condition," too, starting at birth. She
> Perhaps he is trying to do you a favor?
had to take medication for a few years, cut the medication at about 5
years old and used an inhaler occasionally and got nebulizer treatments
a few times when things got bad (after a cold). By 12 it was gone.
She's 19 now - no sign of asthma for years. Several pediatricians told
me that they were just referring to it as being "asthma-like" so that
would justify the treatment, but not label her as "asthmatic" because
they thought she might grow out of it (as she did) and we would not
want that label in her medical records forever.
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/16/2004 8:28:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
claddagh@... writes:
The doctors in the ER told us that it is asthma-like and
not asthma, because they are too young to be diagnosed with asthma.
They then referred to it as a respiratory disorder. <<<<
Our pediatricain said that she wouldn't *diagnose* it as asthma because
insurance agencies don't like to hear that. That when "asthma" is written *down*,
it makes it harder to get insurance later for a "pre-existing
condition"----better to say it's a "disorder" or "possibly pre-asthmatic"! <G>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
claddagh@... writes:
The doctors in the ER told us that it is asthma-like and
not asthma, because they are too young to be diagnosed with asthma.
They then referred to it as a respiratory disorder. <<<<
Our pediatricain said that she wouldn't *diagnose* it as asthma because
insurance agencies don't like to hear that. That when "asthma" is written *down*,
it makes it harder to get insurance later for a "pre-existing
condition"----better to say it's a "disorder" or "possibly pre-asthmatic"! <G>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/15/2004 7:33:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
claddagh@... writes:
Does anyone have any ideas to stop thumb sucking? My daughter will
be five in a couple of months and she is still sucking her thumb. It
has already given her an open bite, but the dentist told us if she
stops before age 6(around the time permanent teeth will start to come
in)it can correct itself. I know I have probably more than a year,
but that is how I felt two years ago and we haven't made any
progress. <<<<<<
No ideas---nor do I think it's a problem. I sucked my thumb until I was at
least 11----maybe 12. I have a slight overbite, but so does my mother, and she
never sucked her thumb. My overbite never required braces----in fact, my
teeth look really good for someone who never had braces. Neither of my boys
sucked their thumbs, and their overbites are minor. No braces there either! Genes
are amazing!
too much at once. He basically is trying to make her go cold turkey
and I don't think this will work. <<<<<<
Then I'm guessing she needs that comfort at night. And if she's dealing with
the stress during the day withOUT thumb-sucking, she may need it MUCH more
at night. Why deny this? And why make her MORE distrustful and unhappy?
him to give it up, due to other children possibly sharing it with
him. I took the pacifier away cold turkey and he proceeded to bite
his finger nails for two years.<<<<
Poor little guy---his only form of self-comfort was forceably taken away, so
he relieved stress with nail-biting.
The day care was denying ALL those little kids a natural (well, an
artificial substitute!<g>) stress reliever: sucking.
transfer of germs, but sometimes we are not quick enough. She is
prone to respiratory problems, which often include a trip to the ER,
when she gets sick. So this issue is also for her health as well as
dental care. <<<<<<
I doubt the illness is caused by the thumb-sucking. I'd bet that it's caused
by a depressed immune system caused by the stress of being forced to give up
her thumb.
Back off----cold turkey----and let her have her thumb. When she feels
confident and happy and content, I bet she'll give it up all on her own----and the
illness will disappear as well.
Do more research on thumb-sucking and dental health---and change dentists!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
claddagh@... writes:
Does anyone have any ideas to stop thumb sucking? My daughter will
be five in a couple of months and she is still sucking her thumb. It
has already given her an open bite, but the dentist told us if she
stops before age 6(around the time permanent teeth will start to come
in)it can correct itself. I know I have probably more than a year,
but that is how I felt two years ago and we haven't made any
progress. <<<<<<
No ideas---nor do I think it's a problem. I sucked my thumb until I was at
least 11----maybe 12. I have a slight overbite, but so does my mother, and she
never sucked her thumb. My overbite never required braces----in fact, my
teeth look really good for someone who never had braces. Neither of my boys
sucked their thumbs, and their overbites are minor. No braces there either! Genes
are amazing!
>>>>> She is okay wih wearing a bandaid during the day and thisstops her, but she needs her thumb at night. Dh is trying to enforce
too much at once. He basically is trying to make her go cold turkey
and I don't think this will work. <<<<<<
Then I'm guessing she needs that comfort at night. And if she's dealing with
the stress during the day withOUT thumb-sucking, she may need it MUCH more
at night. Why deny this? And why make her MORE distrustful and unhappy?
>>>>Ds had a pacifier until 17 monthswhen I put him in daycare for 7 months. They suggested I try to get
him to give it up, due to other children possibly sharing it with
him. I took the pacifier away cold turkey and he proceeded to bite
his finger nails for two years.<<<<
Poor little guy---his only form of self-comfort was forceably taken away, so
he relieved stress with nail-biting.
The day care was denying ALL those little kids a natural (well, an
artificial substitute!<g>) stress reliever: sucking.
>>>>>I should mention that because she sucks her thumb she also seems toget sick more often. We try to wash her hands often to avoid this
transfer of germs, but sometimes we are not quick enough. She is
prone to respiratory problems, which often include a trip to the ER,
when she gets sick. So this issue is also for her health as well as
dental care. <<<<<<
I doubt the illness is caused by the thumb-sucking. I'd bet that it's caused
by a depressed immune system caused by the stress of being forced to give up
her thumb.
Back off----cold turkey----and let her have her thumb. When she feels
confident and happy and content, I bet she'll give it up all on her own----and the
illness will disappear as well.
Do more research on thumb-sucking and dental health---and change dentists!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
soggyboysmom
--- In [email protected], kbcdlovejo@a... wrote:
other children possibly sharing it with him. I took the pacifier
away cold turkey and he proceeded to bite his finger nails for two
years.<<<<
DS had a pacifier to use sometimes (like when we were stuck behind a
hay convey on a tiny two laner in the boonies of Oklahoma with no
place to pull off to nurse him in sight - longest 15 minutes of my
life!) Anyhow, once he got his first 4 teeth (front, upper and
lower) he just spit it out and never looked back. Now he's 6 and
sometimes sucks his fingers (one or several). If they start looking
soggy, I'll gently take them and dry them - he can then put them
back or move on to something else. Sometimes he'll just pop them
out, "hand" them to me and ask to have them dried. When I see that I
know to check out the situation because something is getting to him -
stress, boredom, something and if I can use the little gap while
he's sucking his fingers to come up with a plan of action, we can
usually avoid unpleasant meltdowns.
>for 7 months. They suggested I try to get him to give it up, due to
> >>>>Ds had a pacifier until 17 months when I put him in daycare
other children possibly sharing it with him. I took the pacifier
away cold turkey and he proceeded to bite his finger nails for two
years.<<<<
DS had a pacifier to use sometimes (like when we were stuck behind a
hay convey on a tiny two laner in the boonies of Oklahoma with no
place to pull off to nurse him in sight - longest 15 minutes of my
life!) Anyhow, once he got his first 4 teeth (front, upper and
lower) he just spit it out and never looked back. Now he's 6 and
sometimes sucks his fingers (one or several). If they start looking
soggy, I'll gently take them and dry them - he can then put them
back or move on to something else. Sometimes he'll just pop them
out, "hand" them to me and ask to have them dried. When I see that I
know to check out the situation because something is getting to him -
stress, boredom, something and if I can use the little gap while
he's sucking his fingers to come up with a plan of action, we can
usually avoid unpleasant meltdowns.