Customer Reviews

Stop Thumb Sucking with Thumb Guard Kit (Size Medium/Ages 5-6)

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I have to admit that I was very hesitant on using this thumb guard; I felt awful having to place this on my three year old's hand the very first time. The only thing that spurred me on was the previous reviews that I had read. I was very surprised that my daughter really did not mind it at all. In fact she even reminds me to put it on her. She has been using it for three weeks now and my avid thumb sucker no longer needs to wear it during the day. I now only place it on her at night.

I have one little tip, we went right through the straps that were included with the guard in the first two weeks. The replacement straps, I felt were very expensive so I looked for them at the local party store and found that I was able to pick up 100 of the paper straps that fasten with a sticker instead of the snap for only 16 dollars. Now I don't have to worry about how often I need to take it off and put it back on her.

This product has been most helpful. Our daughter has been a thumbsucker since in the womb and we have tried numerous other techniques to get her to quit. All of which resulted in stress and fights.

The thumbguard ended all that. She liked being able to pick the color of her band and it wasn't too much of a struggle to get on. The first night it was hard, but when we combined wearing the thumbguard with a reward sticker chart it was a breeze.

It is clear, but whenever I cut it off, I would put it in a kitchen cupboard with the bands. We never lost it and she didn't try to hide it because she wanted her special rewards (ice cream, date with daddy to Taco Bell, money for coloring books. )

I wish we would have found it before starting Kind. as I would have had her wear it all the time, but since she had started school, we have only had her wear it at night.

The only negative, I wish there would have been more bands.

My son is 6 1/2 and has been sucking his thumb since he was born. We tried everything and nothing worked. Within 2 days of wearing it only at night, we saw a difference, even his teacher called to ask how we managed to stop his habit. He just finished using the last band last week and he has not sucked his thumb since! I even go in his room at night to see if he does it in his sleep and so far he doesn't! This was worth every penny....he couldn't be happier and more proud of himself.

This product works great as reinforcement when your child WANTS to quit, and when they can be convinced (bribed) to leave it on. Because of the stretchy rubber, there is no way to get it tight enough that they can't pull the strap closures through each other and get them loose enough to get guard off if they really want to. It took my kid less than two minutes to figure this out. However, if you can come up with an incentive - a reward they will get if the guards are still on in the morning, then the Thumbguard can help them not to accidentally suck during the night, and can be a reminder during the day. My child nibbles on hers, though, and the rubber can be bitten and nibbled away to reveal the thumb after a few weeks. If you are forcing this on your child - don't waste your money. If they WANT to quit and agree they need help, this product can be a big reinforcement.

We were desperate to stop my four year old from sucking her thumb, so I purchased the guard dedicated to one hand, as she ONLY sucked her left thumb. Once I got the hang of putting it on, it was pretty easy, and she dealt with it fine. It did break her of the HABIT portion of sucking. After the time allotted, we removed it permanently (not just to air it out). It did break her successfully of the unconscious habit of putting her thumb in her mouth during the day, but she quickly resumed the comfort sucking associated with putting herself to sleep. Now, she is more AWARE of the sucking and doesn't do it during the day, but the nighttime habit has been more of a challenge for us. I imagine that if I still continued to use it at night, it would also break the habit, but she "discovered" that her right thumb tastes just as good! Also, I would recommend using a lanolin type ointment under the guard that is resistant to moisture (such as a breastfeeding lanolin) because my daughter's thumb got very stinky and she developed what I would imagine was a type of fungal/yeast infection from the trapped moisture. It was painful and ugly and hard to clear up. I would recommend this product, but I would probably spend the extra money on both thumbs just in case and be sure to protect the skin under the guard.

I highly recommend this device, but recomend using athletic tape around the thumb before placing it in the sleeve. My daughter is an avid thumb sucker, but SHE wants to stop before going to school next year. We have tried all the nasty tasting detourants and taping a sock over her and at bed time, etc. You name it, we have tried it. She has found her way out of every device we have used and "suffered" through all the bad tastes. When I first used this device I was dissapointed, she quickly and easily found a way to get her thumb out...until I read the instructions...Imagine that! They suggested preventing the thumb to bend by wrapping it with athletic/medical tape. I am very careful not to get it too tight and cut off circulation, but we wrap it around several times to limit her thumbs movement and presto! She can no longer get her thumb out and she is VERY proud of each day she goes with out sucking her thumb. I must warn you though... this is their coping mechanism, and without it the child must re-learn to cope with everyday events...disapointment and re-learn to soothe themselves, even relearn to fall asleep. It is rough at times and there have been tears of frustration, but I think we are going to be a success story and not have to go through the investment and trauma of a unit cemented to her teeth.

I got this thumb guard for my 3 year old daughter, July of 2008. I was hesitant to get this, thinking she may be too young and it might be really hard on her, but it worked! She was addicted to her thumb. She would have it in her mouth to sleep, while watching t.v. while riding in the car, in the shopping cart, even at the pool while waiting for her lessons to start. The only real problem we had was my daughter chewing on the thumb gaurd and she started biting her nails. I bought that nail biting stuff that tastes awful and put it on her guard and nails, and I trimmed her nails so they were short. After a month we took it off and she hasn't sucked her thumb yet and she has stopped biting her nails. At the end of the month,the thumb gaurd was split and cracked and stained from all the abuse, but it held up and worked. The thumb guard did cause a little irritation causing her skin by her thumb to get red and a little sore at times. I would just take it off for a while when I could watch her to remind her if she did try to suck her thumb.

I have a 2.5 year old that was VERY addicted to his thumb! I took the thumb guard off after 3.5 weeks and he hasn't sucked it since. YAY!!! Be prepared, though, for trouble getting to sleep the first couple of weeks, especially if they still take naps. They need to learn to relax without it. Totally worth it!!!

Since birth my daughter has sucked her thumb. The doctor told me to ignore it and it would eventually go away. When she turned 3 I started trying different things with no success when I came accross a thumbguard ad. I ordered one and immediately started using it on her. She cried at first but then just started sucking the thumbguard while wearing it. After 30 days I gave up for a few months but then ended up trying it 2 more seperate times. The last time I decided to punch holes towards the base of it so it couldn't create suction and within 2 days I noticed she wasn't sucking so after a week I took it off completely and it has now been 2 months and I can safely say my now 4 year old daughter does not suck her thumb.

We tried the Mavala STOP nail polish, gloves at night, rewards--even sewed a sock to the end of her jammie arms, and she pushed her arm out through the neck hole to suck her thumb! This is what finally worked. She's a month shy of 5, so definitely old enough to give up this lifelong habit, but it's a hard one to kick. Thankfully this product did the trick. We have 10 days of bands to go; I'm thinking about buying more bands to make SURE she's kicked it for good. Already her teeth have moved. A rather apparent open bite has closed signficantly. She'll still need ortho work for sure, but some of the thumb damage is already reversing itself. Very grateful for this product!