Thumb Guard

As I have been trying to knock things off my "summer goal" list for the kids, Mia's thumb sucking was the thing I was dreading the most!  She has been a thumb sucker for as long as I can remember.  Of course at first it was cute...she always had it with her, no messing with pacifiers that you had to shove back in their mouths at night or worry about leaving them at home, etc.  I think it is what made her such a rock star sleeper, starting at just a few weeks old.  Her great sleeping habits have continued and was still even taking a consistent afternoon nap until just about a month ago.

Well, I decided this summer at almost age 4-1/2, that it was going to be the end of an era.  Luckily for me, she never sucked it all day long, really only just at nap time and bedtime.  But when she sucked it, she sucked it hard!  Even to the point that it was starting to push her front teeth out a bit.

With the start of Pre-K this fall, I felt kindergarden looming and decided that enough was enough.  I borrowed a "thumb guard" (a plastic contraption that fits over her thumb) from my friend Diane who had used it on her daughter.  Lillie was so scared at the thought of wearing it that she quit cold turkey.  Mia on the other had was intrigued by the device, wanted to pick out the colored band, etc....like it was an accessory!  Of course, the novelty has since worn off and many nights she would yell down, "I can't sleep with this thing on!!!"  Well, we are over a month into it and just this week I've let her sleep without it on.  She is going to sleep much easier and when I check in on her, it's about 95% usually NOT in her mouth.  I think we have turned a corner and I am so proud of her!  The naps are gone, but it's been a good sacrifice.  Go, Meemers, Go!!