We did it, this boy is no longer a thumb sucker. Way to go Dane! (Can you believe how blond his hair has gotten this summer? People keep asking if I colored it because it is such a contrast from his natural color. He needs a haircut but I keep avoiding it, I love it!)
My goal was to have him break this habit before kindergarten and a month ago I felt like this one was way out of my reach. He had been sucking his thumb only at night but in the last 4-5 months he started using it all the time. I'm sure mostly to tick me off (oh yeah, it worked). After our weekend in Seattle I told him if he would quit sucking his thumb he could pick out whatever Wii game he wanted. He cried when I first asked him to stop sucking his thumb and told me how he couldn't sleep without it. I pushed on and I'm not sure why because 1- I sucked my thumb until I was at least 10 (don't judge me, ha), 2- I'm sure this boy's going to need braces no matter what with his parents genetics and 3- He's been getting up about 45 minutes earlier every day and been a crank in the afternoon but with how he was going back to sucking it all the time, I felt like it was worth the shot. We used 'yucky stuff' a few times but that sent him into huge crying fits and I gave up using it. I ended up printing out a blank calander and he drew a picture for each day he woke up without a soggy thumb. A tent when we were camping, a Book of Mormon on a Sunday, a smiley face and so many other cute drawings. Even two frowny faces for when he slipped up (that was his idea). I need to get a photo of it, it's adorable.
I think what really sealed the deal was Nintendo pushing their new game Wii Sports Resort and the tons of commercials the kids have seen. He wanted that game in a bad way and talked about it all the time. Asking if it was the day he would get to go buy it. Of course it's one of the more expensive games (Thanks for the $7 off Costco) that also requires an add on motion sensor, making it even more expensive for all the other kids to play but I'm still saying this expensive bribe was totally worth it!
Plus, it might just save my sanity because we still have another week before school starts. They played for a bit before bed and it does look like a fun game that will take them a long time to conquer. Hallelujah!
That is funny. Caiden was a MAJOR thumb sucker too. But it was my brother who got him to stop. He lost the tip of his thumb in an accident a few years back. He told Caiden he sucked it so much when he was little that it fell off. Mean, I know, but it worked. Caiden hasn't sucked his thumb since that day.
That last comment was hilarious. I'm all about the fear! Grandpa Bishop used to ask me what flavor my thumb was. It was always chocolate for those who are curious. I finally stopped when I was 8 and mom let me get my ears pierced. The older girls had to wait until they were 12-hehe. Bribery has it's place and purpose in parenting that's for sure! Congrats to mom and Dane!
Thumb sucking is a HARD habit to break! My parents bought be a big hippopotumus sink from toys are us when I quit....but then I started sucking a finger. I remember TRYING to stop, but I just couldn't! Finally, I started wrapping all my fingers in tape at night and that seemed to stop me. BUT I STILL bite my nails and have my whole life. I think it comes from that old habit of just having to have something in my mouth! :)
Very impressive Dane! I'm surprised he did it so fast and so willingly. It wasn't bad at all. Good thing you didn't have to cast his arm to get him to stop. ha!
I'm all for bribery,I swear by it. lucky for us ours are still little enough that candy still works wonders. Thats how we got them to sleep comming home from Yakima Sunday. What kind of yucky stuff have you been using cause Katie has started to really suck on her thumb or just put all her fingers in adn suck on them. Nothing we do can get her to stop. Tell Dane I can't wait to hear all about his new game in class.
I got my ears pierced when I was 5 to stop sucking my thumb. Both of my girls sucked while they were babies and then as soon as I quit nursing they both quit. Crazy hu?
Dane is so darn cute and I was wondering if you had colored his hair. It is crazy how it changes.
I want to get that game for my kids for Christmas. It is good to hear it is fun.
We did it, this boy is no longer a thumb sucker. Way to go Dane! (Can you believe how blond his hair has gotten this summer? People keep asking if I colored it because it is such a contrast from his natural color. He needs a haircut but I keep avoiding it, I love it!)
12 comments:
Way to go Dane! Bribery has it's purpose, this being the PERFECT example! Looks like a FUN game! Wow! Dane has gotten blond over the summer!
That is funny. Caiden was a MAJOR thumb sucker too. But it was my brother who got him to stop. He lost the tip of his thumb in an accident a few years back. He told Caiden he sucked it so much when he was little that it fell off. Mean, I know, but it worked. Caiden hasn't sucked his thumb since that day.
That last comment was hilarious. I'm all about the fear! Grandpa Bishop used to ask me what flavor my thumb was. It was always chocolate for those who are curious. I finally stopped when I was 8 and mom let me get my ears pierced. The older girls had to wait until they were 12-hehe. Bribery has it's place and purpose in parenting that's for sure! Congrats to mom and Dane!
Thumb sucking is a HARD habit to break! My parents bought be a big hippopotumus sink from toys are us when I quit....but then I started sucking a finger. I remember TRYING to stop, but I just couldn't! Finally, I started wrapping all my fingers in tape at night and that seemed to stop me. BUT I STILL bite my nails and have my whole life. I think it comes from that old habit of just having to have something in my mouth! :)
I am glad the bribery worked!
i bought Emily a barbie bike when she quit....
Glad it worked! And is saving your sanity as well...
Wow, he got seriously blond! He looks so handsome.
Congratulations on the successful, though expensive bribe.
Very impressive Dane! I'm surprised he did it so fast and so willingly. It wasn't bad at all. Good thing you didn't have to cast his arm to get him to stop. ha!
I'm all for bribery,I swear by it. lucky for us ours are still little enough that candy still works wonders. Thats how we got them to sleep comming home from Yakima Sunday.
What kind of yucky stuff have you been using cause Katie has started to really suck on her thumb or just put all her fingers in adn suck on them. Nothing we do can get her to stop.
Tell Dane I can't wait to hear all about his new game in class.
I got my ears pierced when I was 5 to stop sucking my thumb. Both of my girls sucked while they were babies and then as soon as I quit nursing they both quit. Crazy hu?
Dane is so darn cute and I was wondering if you had colored his hair. It is crazy how it changes.
I want to get that game for my kids for Christmas. It is good to hear it is fun.
Now that I'm ALMOST caught up on my blogging again, I can start reading blogs again. Such a cute pic of Daner! I'm so happy when bribery works!!
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