Need Help Breaking Kiddo's Thumb Habit - Any Tricks?

We went through something similar with our daughter - she was unstoppable with the bitter polish too, lol. Have you tried the silicone thumb guards yet? I've heard mixed things...some kids just rip them off, but others seem to do well. Maybe try pairing it with a reward chart or something she really wants as motivation? Hang in there, habits like these can be tough to break, but she'll get there eventually.

Since she’s powering through the bitter polish, it may help to notice when she sucks her thumb most. A guard can block access, but it won’t meet the need behind the habit. If it’s mainly at bedtime, for example, offering a comfort item as part of her routine might give her something else to reach for; if it happens at other times, the helpful substitute could be different.

If you try a reward chart, I’d reward a small step she can choose, not a whole day without sucking. For example, she could earn a mark for trying the bedtime routine she picked. That keeps the focus on effort rather than making a slip feel like a failure.

A thumb guard’s usefulness depends on whether it’s comfortable enough for her to keep on. Check that it’s intended for her age, and watch for pinching, skin irritation, or trouble playing; if it bothers her, she may just take it off. And it only blocks access while she’s wearing it, so wearing the guard isn’t by itself evidence that the habit has stopped.