The great thing about binkies is you can take them away. Crickett never used a binky. She found her fingers instead. So the problem we have come across is that now as she approaches her 4th birthday we are trying to get her to stop sucking on them. Why? Well other than messing up the growth of her fingers it can also mess up her teeth so she requires braces....a very expensive issue indeed. I have been getting after her about it. I told her if I caught her doing it I would take away one piece of Halloween candy. This appears to only work when I'm around as was demonstrated yesterday when I called home.
Michelle was talking to me on the phone and I heard her telling Crickett not to suck on her fingers or Daddy would take away her candy, to which Crickett replied, "Do you see him around here anywhere?" Oh great, I can see I'm having some real impact there.
And then today, she got her bear which is a big indication that finger-sucking will shortly ensue and so I waited and watched for it. Just before she put them in I told her not to do it. So she looked at me and said she was going into the playroom. I looked back at her and told her she better not suck her fingers. She said she was going to go into the short part of the playroom where I couldn't see her. What great logic! Because I can't see her, even though I'm here, it's ok. Any help here would be great. I don't think Child Protective Services would be too keen on me sewing a glove permanently onto her hand. Maybe I can soak her fingers in vinegar or garlic. I don't know. Candy doesn't seem to be a big enough motivator. THAT I don't understand at all. I don't know who's kid she is. Candy has ALWAYS motivated me!
I never thought I would be pro-binky but after this struggle, they are way easier to cure.
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2 comments:
We had the same issue with our second son, Joseph, except it was thumb sucking. We tried the stuff you put on their fingernails, but kids learn that if they suck long enough, it stops tasting bad.
We finally got a ThumbGuard and that seemed to do the trick. We were worried about the dental issues as well, so it seemed like a worthwhile investment. They also make a FingerGuard which is probably what you'd need: http://www.thumbguard.com/Fingerguard.html
It sounds like most of the finger sucking is related to the bear. Consequences of sucking her fingers could be that the bear gets a time out (meaning the bear gets put somewhere she can't get it for a specified time...) Actually, when this happened to one of my siblings, it was a blankie and that blankie happened to get "lost" for about a month. When the sibling found the blankie (about a month later), she was told she could have it back as long as she didn't suck her fingers. The habit was broken by that point and it wasn't an issue anymore. Good luck with this! I was a binkie girl and traded my binkie for a record player from Grandma and that was the end. Fingers are a lot harder!
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