I remember on Trip 1 (Sept 2008) when we met Kristina and saw that she was a thumb sucker...how cute it was! Well, that was almost 3 years ago (!!!) and our little one still finds comfort in sucking her thumb. I'm not ready to make orthodontic appointments yet, but we're quite certain they are in our future.
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Kristina has always soothed herself by sucking her thumb and gently caressing her eyelashes,
as seen here when we met her on Trip 1 (day 2). |
Seeing that she is the only one sucking her thumb when the rest of the class at school is watching a movie, I knew we needed to start tapering this down. I read online of a safe topical polish that when placed on the thumbnail, it tastes very bitter. I tried it myself and ugh....not very appetizing.
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Mavala - ordered online for $10.
Heck, if it saves a few hundred/thousand dollars in Orthodontic bills, then it's worth it! |
When the package arrived, I told Kristina what it was for. We talked about how she is a big girl and we'll try to slowly stop sucking the thumb, for example, during the day... When Kristina looked at the bottle of polish (applied just like nail polish), she started to cry. Our hearts sank. We know that this is Kristina's main way of soothing herself when tired, nervous, scared, etc. "
I don't want to stop sucking my thumb!" Our hearts sank even more.
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| With my iPhone nearby, I captured Kristina's reaction to the concept of not sucking her thumb. (sigh) |
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You can't see it, but there are real tears flowing down her face
as Kristina checks out the bottle of Mavala. |
So we told her we'd wait until next week, easing her into the idea. Well, last night - only 4 days later,
she told us "
I want that medicine on my thumb" -- so we obliged. She didn't want it only on her right thumb, but she also wanted it on her left (non-sucking) thumb! You'd think I was giving her a manicure as she blew it dry and adoringly kept looking at it's clear coat. A few minutes later, she licked her nail announcing "
Hmmmm, I like the taste!"
What?????? I thought we lost this little battle.
As I put Kristina to bed last night after reading
101 Dalmatians again, she fell asleep angelically...without sucking her thumb. This is HUGE! However, in the middle of the night, we were awakened by a child who snuck into our bed and started crying "
I want my thumb." It was heart breaking to hear her cry -- it was not an annoying cry, it was a cry of loss. Jon jumped up and got her some water to help take away the taste of the polish. It worked....she was fast asleep in a few minutes, without a thumb in the mouth.
Not once did I see her suck her thumb today -- a first ever for us. We shared lots of "whoo-hooos" and "high-fives" and hugs to celebrate. She fell asleep tonight and remains asleep, with her hand tucked gently under her face. This may be a new beginning for our little Kristina...after all, she is a big girl you know!
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| Sweet dreams, our sweet little angel. |
13 comments:
Ohhh. . . .those are the hardest growing pains aren't they?? God bless!
You go big girl! What a huge step. Thankfully Colby never sucked his thumb but lately he has taken to biting his fingernails. Guess he is my kid, I always did that too, and still do. Yikes! Maybe we need some of that polish too!
Melissa
Way to go Kristina!
~Anna(OH)
What a milestone. Congratulations Kristina!
Love,
Donna (OH)
Good luck! I am really interested to see if that stuff works long term. I had a neice who sucked her thumb until she was 5 or 6 and NOTHING worked except peer pressure at kindergarten. Her teeth are beautiful now at age 22.
Lexi is a thumb sucker too and we've been talking to her about quitting. Naturally, she doesn't want to stop either, but now when she is tired, she'll ask me "Can I suck my thumb?" How can I say no?
Her two front teeth are pushed out a bit, but her dentist is not concerned yet (maybe b/c he sees the $$$ signs - haha.) The dentist said that if she is still sucking her thumb after age 5, they have a retainer they can put in her mouth which is painless, but makes it impossible to thumb suck. He said it only takes a few weeks to break the habit. Oh, how I hope we never to have to find out!
Please keep us posted on Kristina's progress. That is the sweetest photo of her asleep with her hand under her cheek!
Wow, what a big step for her! Way to go, Kristina. Hope the success continues!
Oh, I bet that broke you rheart to hear her cry for her thumb. But the fact that she didn't actually suck on it sounds to me like it's more of a security thing and being soothed by Mommy & Daddy did the trick! My Henry's a thumb sucker- he finally quit this past year- at almost 6 years old! Took quite a bit of doing, but he finally gave it up after great encouragement and conversations about buck teeth! LOL!
Sweet little thing! We have a thumb sucker too and I know this post is in my duture. :) We have to visit you guys when we are in Cali!
Awww, what a big girl! Great job, Kristina!!! Any tips on getting Alex to stop rocking??!! ;)
As a previous thumb sucker myself, I feel your pain, Kristina. I can still recall the taste of that polish Mom used on me because I couldn't give up my thumb even with the bitter polish on it for a long time. But I did quit eventually and so will you. Remember that Mommy and Daddy are doing this becase they love you so. Cassidy and I enjoy seeing pictures of you in your big girl bed as Cassidy has the same bedding, sheets and matching pillows. You really are 'two peas in a pod', as your Mommy said. Love to all from your cousins in Florida :)
way to go kristina! i hope things are going well with breaking the thumb habit. my 3rd daughter was a thumb sucker so i feel your pain. :-)
fyi: both my older girls need(ed) braces and they didn't even suck their thumbs. i think braces are in just about everyone's cards if you want straight teeth. don't stress to much about it :-)
WOW Kristina! you go you brave little girl -- it is hard giving up the one thing you know will comfort you at any time! you are a rock star growing up like this!! :) our LM says he'd love some lessons on you you did it!! we found the topical wasn't even slightly repelling... and decided that clearly the need for the finger was far stronger than his taste buds at least this year... we'll try again and hope to take pointers from you in a year or so! :) hugs to you and your mama and papa!
YUCK ... I too was a thumb sucker Kristina and my Mom used the same polish on my thumb ... I still remember the taste!!! I showed her though ... instead of sucking my thumb I switched to my finger!! Here I am 43yrs later and when I am dead tired I still soothe myself by sucking my finger but only at night hidden well beneath the covers!!!! Max is the thumb sucker in our house ... I know it is how he soothes himself and I just can't bring myself to buy that polish. Maybe when he turns 4 we will begin to wean him off the tumb ... I know braces are in our future that's for sure!!
Way to go big girl .. you can do it!!!
Christine
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