Verbal Motivation

• Experts suggest talking to your child and explaining that thumb-sucking is an activity for babies, not big kids. Most children want to mimic adults and older children, so they may be motivated not to engage in the behavior if it associates them with infants. You can provide examples of heroes or fictional personalities that your child respects and emphasize that they do not suck their thumbs. Praise your child for being a big boy when he withholds from sucking his thumb for a period of time.
  
  

Clothes With Mitts

• Clothing with mitts helps children to stop sucking their fingers by preventing them from accessing their fingers. Baby stores and other online retailers sell shirts, onesies and pajamas with capped sleeves or mitts, much like the onesies with mitts that protect newborn babies from scratching themselves. Some parents have succeeded in putting gloves or mittens on children's hands, but gloves and mittens can easily be taken off to access fingers.
  
  

Goo or Paste

• Goo or paste designed for thumb-sucking can deter children from the activity by giving them a very nasty taste when they put fingers in their mouths. Most grocery stores and baby stores sell this item, which is not harmful or toxic. It is applied with a small brush to all of the fingers, because if a child is accustomed to sucking her thumb and the goo is only applied to the thumb, she may substitute her thumb with another finger. Some children are repulsed enough by the taste to refrain from sucking their fingers, but other children may suck anyway, despite the taste (especially since sucking may mitigate the taste after a while). Goo should be applied regularly to reinforce the bad taste.
  
  

Gradual Weaning

• Experts suggest gradually weaning children from thumb-sucking rather than banning the activity all together at once. For instance, parents can begin by restricting the activity in public, telling children that they can only suck their fingers in the house. Once the child adjusts to this restriction, thumb-sucking can be further restricted to naps and bed time. Thumb-sucking is an addictive habit, and children---just like adults---need time to make gradual changes to rid themselves of a habit.
  
  

Frequent Snacks

• Frequent snacks and feedings may help to wean a child from thumb-sucking because hunger may be motivating the activity. Making sure that a child is nourished and satiated can help her to relax and be comfortable. However, parents should be cautious not to get into the habit of using food to console children from all of their emotional discomforts.