How would you react if your teenaged child still has the habit of thumbsucking

I first want to say, that is really not good for a teenager to be sucking on their thumb. You said she doesn't do it in public but has no control over the habit, well she must have some control or she would do it anytime that she is bored or unactive. Maybe there is attention problem within the family. I have a suggestion that worked on my kids, but remember they were kids. I put liquid pepper on their thumbs. Mix vingar and pepper together and soak the thumb in it for about 3-5 minutes. This way it soaks into the nail. When they stick the thumb in mouth they immediatly taste the pepper and vingar. I wish your friend luck and hope that this works.

To be honest I used to be a thumb sucker when I was young. I still remember that time I finally decided to stop that habit. It was when I was already in the third grade. I did it myself. I only do thumbsucking when I was abou to go to bed. My parents could not stop me from doing it. Their were times that they tied my hands together during bed time, but I was not able to go to sleep the whole night and they keep on doing it for the whole week then I got sick for I haven't been sleeping. It was just my will to stop it for I realized I am too old for that habit. It is just all about self control. At first it was so hard but later on this habit will slowly fades away.

My cousin had this habit till 20 years of her age and I don't know if she still does it. I have heard that kids who didn't get the chance to have mother's milk for a long time usually have the habit of thumb sucking. That is what I heard from my aunt. I am not sure about it. If the child is a teenager, you can tell him/her that it is a bad habit and ask him to stop it.

Oh! that is so bad that the kid has not realized how bad this habit is! I feel really bad for the parents and how embarrassing they will feel about the whole matter. I think the kid needs counseling as this habit (at this age) can also be an impact of some psychological fear. I would suggest that the parents confide the whole matter to a doctor/counselor and get their advice so that they can take immediate actions.

My cousin had this bad habit...do you know that by doing this it not only affects their health because infection reaches the mouth very easily through the thumb...also the upper jaw protudes to the front...so it is a bad habit... Such bad habits should be controlled or stopped well before...moreover it is awkward so see a well grown gal sucking the thumb :-)

My daughte had the habit of biting her fingernail last year. I and my husband both were worry about it. We persuaded her not to do that many times,but she couldn't quit the bad habit. Finally, we requested help to her teacher. Under the help of her teach, she quit the habit in the end. We all feel delighted.