Over the past few years, we have answered many queries about wearing Thumbsie® thumb and finger guards. So we thought it would make it easier if we put all the answers on our Frequently Asked Questions page (FAQ).
We hope that this helps you decide if wearing a Thumbsie® is right for your digit sucker but if you still have more questions then please get in touch us on hello@thumbsie.co.uk and we will try to help.
Problems may arise if the thumb and finger sucking are prolonged and vigorous. According to research there are many possible effects of thumb sucking for children after the adult teeth start to grow. For more information visit our Problems with thumb sucking page.
YES! Thumbsie® is recommended by dentists and orthodontists all over the world and we have had so many parents write and tell us that they do.
Thumbsie® are dedicated to helping children to stop thumb and finger sucking habit.
Please note that success is not guaranteed.
Yes, we are delighted that many dentists recommend Thumbsies® to their thumb sucking patients, read more of their comments about why they help. We have also been awarded Innovation of the Year in the 2019 Dental Industry Awards run in association with the BDIA (British Dental Industry Association). Since 2020 we have been an approved product by the Oral Health Foundation.
We suggest that the Thumbsies® is suitable for children over the age of 3 who want to give up and who need extra support to help them. Some children at the age of 14 have a small enough thumb to fit into our larger size so it’s worth measuring them. We do however offer a bespoke service if you want a bigger guard or to choose your own fabric. We do not recommend Thumbsies® for babies or children under the age of three, please read here.
Thumbsie® makes both a thumb guard and finger guard. Finger guards are designed to fit over two fingers to help reduce finger sucking. They will fit either the middle and index fingers or the middle and ring fingers. They are available in five different sizes and in a variety of fun fabrics. Don’t forget to measure your child’s fingers to get a good fit.
The Thumbsie® is a kind and gentle way to stop your child from thumb sucking. Its fun to wear, its comfortable and shouldn’t stop the child from taking part in their usual activities. It is designed to give your child independence as they can remove them themselves when they need to wash their hands unlike the fastened thumb guards or the plastic ones that are fitted to the hand. You can praise your child and reward them when they have worn the Thumbsie® for a whole day at school or on a car journey or for the first time all night. The whole family can get behind it and praise the child for a job well done. Parents will need to encourage and be committed to helping stop thumb sucking. Once your child has stopped digit sucking we can send them a free personalised success certificate to display proudly on their bedroom wall.
Thumbsies® are handmade from fabric, they are fastened about the wrist with Velcro®. They can be removed but this helps the child feel independent when wearing them as they can remove them when washing their hands.
It’s important for your child to wear their Thumbsies® day and night if possible. They are made of fabric and are comfortable to wear; they have been designed so that the child can carry on with their normal activities. With that in mind, we have 5 different sizes for you to choose from. The fabric guards should fit comfortably around the wrist. If you are unsure that they are the right size please get in touch immediately and do not wear them. We can exchange unworn, unwashed thumb and finger guards.
It is important to get a good fit, so please take care when measuring. There are no left and right, a Thumbsies® thumb guard can fit either hand, make sure you order enough guards for each hand that they suck.
We currently have over 40 different fabric patterns to choose from so we hope that you find something you like. The fabrics we use are polycotton, poplin cotton or 100% cotton. Our branded fabric on the inside is cotton fine warp satin fabric and is 100% cotton. We have tried to select patterns that will appeal to children but are careful to make sure that the pattern is small so that it can be seen well on the Thumbsie®. We also usually choose fabrics with a dark background so they don’t show up the dirt so quickly! However we know that children can know their own minds so we if you would like a specific fabric we offer a bespoke service.
We suggest replacing the thumb or finger guards after 6-8 weeks. If the fabric guard starts to fray after use it’s probably time to get a new one so that small pieces of fabric are not coming away. If in the unlikely situation the Velcro® stitching comes away, then it is recommended that they are not worn and replaced.
For best results, your child needs to wear their Thumbsies® day and night from the very start, regardless of when the sucking takes place. If your child is reluctant at first, try using positive parenting methods. We offer reward charts which help encourage thumb sucking children to wear their Thumbsies® throughout the day. We have written a positive book to encourage children to stop thumb sucking. Its called Thumbs Up For Ted’s Thumbsie.
Our Bundles include the book and our reward charts.
For best results, we recommend that your child wear their material thumb and finger guards day and night until the habit is broken. In order to always have a clean one to pop on we suggest that you purchase three per thumb/hand that they suck. The price shown is per single fabric guard. We offer free delivery on all our bundles and orders of three or more guards. We highly recommend our discounted Stop Thumb Sucking Bundles and our Stop Finger Sucking Bundles.
As we know all children are different and therefore will take different amounts of time to stop any habit. Please note that success is not guaranteed. We did hear from one parent who said that her child stopped after wearing the Thumbsie® for just one night, others have written to say that it took over 6 months. However long it takes it’s worth preserving with and remember whilst they are wearing a Thumbsie® they are not sucking their thumb. After an upset or injury children can regress so it’s worth holding on to your fabric guards even after they stop sucking, just in case.
We have a specially formulated Skin Balm using shea butter and coconut oil. It’s designed for dry to very dry skin, comes in 45g portions and is 100% vegan and unscented so is suitable for young children. If your child’s thumb is or from wearing a went glove then remove straightaway and replace with a dry one.
Yes, we offer reward charts. These come in a pack of three with bright, colourful stickers.
Our Thumb Sucking Kits include the book and our reward charts.
Yes we have written our own positive story Thumbs up to Teds Thumbsie about a little boy called Ted who wants to give up before he starts school and his mum helps him by buying him a Thumbsie®. We suggest that is suitable for ages 3- 6 year old, boy and girl thumb and finger suckers.
For best results, we recommend that they wear their Thumbsie® all-day and night from the very start. Like any habit that is difficult to break continuity is important from the start. Thumbsies® are made from cotton and are comfortable to wear so they should not stop your child doing their normal activities. Make sure you have a clean and dry one to put on.
Thumbsie® fabric thumb guards are made from cotton so are simple to wash by hand or in the washing machine at a low temperature. Please wash them before use. Make sure you do the velcro up to protect other clothing and the effectiveness of the velcro. Flatten whilst damp. We suggest three guards per thumb or hand that they suck so that the child has always got a clean one to wear. We also recommned replacing your thumb or finger guards every 6-8 weeks or so.
Our products are designed to be comfortable to wear all day and should not prohibit any activities that they may need to do at school, such as painting or writing. It’s a good idea to tell the teachers that you are trying to get your child to stop sucking their thumb, we are sure they will be willing to help and encourage too. We offer Thumbsies® in most coloured plain and gingham fabrics to match their school uniform.
Try to get the teachers involved, we have heard that lots schools have been very positive about Thumbsies® as they too want the children to stop sucking their thumbs. In our experience, most children think they are really great and have been the envy of the class!! They have been described as ”cool” by other children. You might like to purchase our book Thumbs Up For Ted’s Thumbsie, it’s about a little boy and his great experience at school.
We have helped many families who have a thumb or finger sucker. Some of the stories have been overwhelming. One family took a photograph of their daughter on holiday smiling for the first time in the photo without her thumb in her mouth. One mum wrote to say that her son had a voice – something they didn’t hear very often because he always had his thumb in his mouth. Lots of other parents have written to say it worked and thank you. See our success stories. We offer a free success certificate once they have cracked the habit!
This is a tricky one, and taking the Thumbsie® away too early could result in the child regressing. As they are fun and comfortable to wear we suggest wearing them, especially at night, for a good period of time afterward. Start by wearing them less during the day and then test those difficult times first such as in front of the telly or when they are tired. You know your child best, when you think they are ready then take the Thumbsie® away.
After an upset or injury children can regress so its worth holding on to your fabric guards even after they stop sucking, just in case they need a little top up at some time.
Yes, once your child has stopped sucking their thumb or fingers we offer a success certificate. The certificate is free. Click here to collect yours.
Free UK delivery on orders of three fabric guards or more and ALL OF OUR BUNDLES. For other order postage and packaging is charged at £2.20 per parcel for first class UK postage. Please note we will not be able to provide a tracking number. Your order will be sent by Royal Mail 24hr service.
Postage and packaging is charged at £3.45 per parcel for first-class postage for European countries outside of the UK.
Postage and packaging is charged at £4.90 per parcel for the rest of the World outside of Europe.
Please note that if you are ordering outside the UK then you may be liable for local Import VAT, taxes and custom charges.
We are very sorry, we no longer deliver to all EU countries. Packaging laws have made it cost prohibitive for us to deliver to some countries. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
For customers outside of the UK we may suggest that a tracked service would be preferable, if you know that delivery to your address is sometimes difficult please do let us know.
We accept all major credit cards securely via WorldPay and PayPal. Free UK delivery on orders or three fabric guards or more and on ALL OUR BUNDLES.
Thumbsie® fabric thumb guards are made by hand, whilst we carry a considerable amount of stock some Thumbsies® are made to order. We endeavor to get your order in the post within a couple of days of ordering. Please allow 1-5 working days for delivery from receipt of payment for your order to arrive. Please note deliveries outside the UK will take a little longer. If you need your Thumbsie(s)® in a hurry then please email us on hello@thumbsie.co.uk and we might be able to get them to you sooner. Free UK delivery on orders of three fabric guards or more and on ALL OUR BUNDLES.
We are very sorry, we no longer deliver to all EU countries. Packaging laws have made it cost prohibitive for us to deliver to some countries. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Orders are sent first class by Royal Mail. Please note that orders are not tracked, if you wish for this service please get in touch and we can advise of the additional cost involved. Please note deliveries outside the UK will take a little longer and you could be subject to import VAT, taxes, duties and/or custom charges.
For customers outside of the UK we may suggest that a tracked service would be preferable, if you know that delivery to your address is sometimes difficult please do let us know.
Why not read comments from Jo Bates, founder of Thumbsie Ltd on How to stop thumb sucking where you might find some more tips, helps and advice.
Don’t just take our word for it, watch the video and hear from the children who stopped thumb sucking with Thumbsie®.
Connect with us