Finger Sucking

Children can have many bad habits and finger sucking can be one of the habits that you are concerned about and would like your child to stop.

Many babies and children suck on their fingers during the first few years of their lives. Finger sucking can provide them a sense of security and happiness; it can be a source of a comfort to them. Some kids suck their fingers, hands, or their entire fists in addition to, or instead of their thumbs.

Finger sucking is a completely natural instinct and generally harmless for a child. According to medical experts most children will stop sucking their fingers naturally by the age of 4 or 5. However if not stopped it can cause harm to the teeth. Persistent finger sucking can cause problems, including dental issues (such as an overbite), finger infections, they can even be teased by other children.

Jo Bates, founder of Thumbsie® had found that finger and thumb sucking is quite an emotive subject amongst parents and everyone has their own personal view. You must do what you think is right for your child. If you have been advised by your dentist or orthodontist that this habit is harming your child’s teeth then may be its time to get a Thumbsie® fabric finger guard to help them stop.

Fabric Finger Guards

I started making Thumbsie® fabric thumb guards for my daughter Isabel when she was struggling to stop thumb sucking. After making fabric thumb guards for a while I was asked to help with finger suckers too so I adapted the design into a finger guard. I am so glad that I did as they have helped lots of children stop the habit and we have received many success stories.

The finger guards fit over two fingers, either the middle and index fingers or the middle and ring fingers. It is designed to remind the child not to suck their fingers, and for best results should be worn day and night. All guards are made from cotton so are easily washable by hand or in the washing machine at a low temperature, and they are secured around the wrist by an adjustable Velcro® strap. We offer a wide range of different fabric prints and colours, so we hope that you are able to find the right one to suit your little finger sucker.

Our fabric finger guards are suitable for children aged between 3 – 12 who need extra support to help them to stop finger sucking. The fabric finger guards come in five different sizes, so make sure you take a look at our measuring guide before ordering to ensure you get the right fit.

We recommend that you purchase three guards per hand that they suck, to ensure that you always have a clean one available to wear.

Finger sucking and thumb sucking can effect children’s teeth and palate. Read more about what three dental experts have to say about prolonged digit sucking why they recommend Thumbsies® thumb and finger guards.

For other websites to read other people’s opinions on how to stop finger sucking, you could try reading the article on ChildrensMD.

If you need your questions answered as to whether fabric guards work for the prevention of finger sucking you can read more on our FAQ page.