My 4 yr old finger sucker...

Why are you making yourself so crazy about this behavior? My son used to suck his thumb and I just let him do it until he eventually stopped. It soothes them so what's the big deal. It passes. I don't remember when it stopped . My son is 21 now, his teeth are fine. Just ignore whoever is telling you you must stop this. You are probably stressing the little thing out yanking the fingers out all the time.

He will probably give it up when he's ready. And if he's only doing it to sooth himself to sleep - vs sucking his fingers all day long - then what's the harm. Of course, talk to you pediatrician and dentist about all this.
If it really bugs you, then try bribery. He's old enough to give up a habit like that if there's something special he really wants.
God luck

Susie is a discussion leader in the east valley for arizonamoms.com. She has two sons, ages 6 and 2.

What's the harm in it? He's only 4, he's still little, he's not going to suck his 2 fingers forever I promise. If it's a self soothing thing for him let him do it, he's probably not sleeping, because he's too young to figure out any other way of relaxing himself so instead he's probably stressing over it, which isn't good for 4 year olds to be stressing. Who ever is encouraging you, or has encouraged you to stop it and to go to the extreme of using the Thumb stuff should stop, he's a kid, he's just beyond a toddler at that ... the younger years go so fast, lets not rush them any faster than they already are!!

This may sound a little crazy, but our pediatrician told us that thumbs after 2 could be a problem, but fingers weren't.

It had something to do with the shape of the fingers and the position they go in the mouth (thumb goes in knucle down, fingers knuckle up).

But I agree with everyone else, it's just a habit that he needs right now, he'll probably stop on his own. however, if he does it awake, you could probably ask him not to do it, offer a bribe if you have to, but don't worry about sleeping.

My 4-yr-old daughter does the same with her index and middle finger, AND she holds her earlobe with the other hand! She started doing this out of the blue at 18 months old after never sucking her thumb and having only had the pacifier as a tiny baby. We took her to the dr.--I thought she had a sore throat/ear infection combo, but there was nothing wrong.

We'd really like her to stop, but then again it's how she comforts herself. We try to limit it, like no fingers at the dinner table or not just walking around the house in the middle of the day, but otherwise, we let it go. She's not going to go to her prom sucking her fingers, that's what we tell ourselves! It will resolve itself on its own.

Thanks for the advice! Now...can you talk to my husband??? I honestly would rather the kid sleep than worry about his finger sucking, but it really bothers my husband. Our older two used a pacifier and with those, you could yank them out early and throw them away. We never had a problem, but with this kid...he's so devious about it! I don't think this is a battle we can win. I sucked my thumb until I was at least 5. I remember specifically my mother coming into my room at nap time and catching me! I resolved then and there to stop and I did.

Don't stress yourself! My daugther was 10 when she stopped. And the callus went away (from her teeth), your baby will stop sooner or later.

Happy Wife. Happy Mother to Ashley 11/14/87 and Izabel 11/3/06