My follow up is a bit late, but our ISP has been having problems off and on, plus we had the Katy Duffeys come into town this weekend for a fun boy-filled weekend.
Anyway, Dylan did it! The first night he did great and he has been thumb free for 9 nights and 10 days. Woo hoo! Of course, we are using a big time bribe system. Here is the list he has been rewarded so far:
Dunkin' Donuts
Sonic Smoothie Night
Going to the Big Pool
Making Jello
Eating Jello
Getting a Kite
So we are spreading them out more these days, but now whenever he hits a goal, he asks, "What am I working for now?" ha! I haven't thought of anything yet because we are going to Midland this Wed. and everything there is special. Since we are going to do it anyway, I'm not sure what I am coming up with. I do have electric Bubble wands that I bought on sale at Target. I think that will be the next thing to work for these next 3 days.
It went much smoother than expected. Night 3 was the worst, but I don't have to stay with him anymore for him to fall asleep. He doesn't scream anymore when I leave so we are getting back on schedule except for the fact that he does get up earlier in the mornings now. Ugh!
After night 30 we are taking the band aid off to see if the habit is broken. I've heard that is a good amount of time for it to work. I'll update you on Day 31!
Breaking a thumb sucking habit can be done with a lot of band aids and a smart little boy! Bribery is the key!
P.S. Logan is loving this too as he gets every reward Dylan does. He even claps and says "Yeah!" when we do. Little does he know that he is next!!!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Last July vs. This July
So last year at this time we were just beginning to potty train Dylan (3rd of July to be exact). He really did well with it. We went cold turkey to undies and never went back. I was impressed because for boys he was trained really early. 2 1/4 years is very soon. He is a superstar in that regard. You tell him to do it and without too many hiccups he does it. What a big boy.
Well, tonight as I sit here the poor baby is keeping his band aid on his thumb for Dunkin' Donuts in the morning. If you ever look closely in any picture of Dylan from 2 on he always has a band aid on his right thumb. Why you ask? Its a reminder not to suck his thumb.
We started this when he went to preschool as a Cubbie Bear. We thought, "Hey, he isn't talking much, maybe its his thumb!" Well, I'm not sure that theory is true now, because Logan is a thumb sucker too and he chats up a storm at the same age Dylan was quiet, but the band aid is a way for him to keep it out. Now he definitely talks more without it. He's quite an inspiration to others too (ha!). Logan asks for one at least twice a week and Dylan's friend Morgan in school, a fellow thumb sucker, asked her mom for one a couple of times. It cracks me up.
Anyway, so he wears a band aid in the morning. If he makes it through lunch, which is about 99% of the time, he gets bubble gum. This is kind of just a given now as it really isn't difficult for him to do that. We just were lazy and haven't upped the anty.
We take the band aid off at nap time. When we introduced it, we always said, "Since we are a big boy, we only suck our thumb when we are sleeping." Then when he wakes up, most days we put another band aid on. Yes we need stock in Johnson and Johnson's!
So tonight in the bath, Greg, who has been wanting to do this for a long time, says "Dylan, if you keep your band aid on all night, we'll go get donuts in the morning." Logan of course chimes in at this point, "Donut Holes!" Dylan gets all excited saying he can do it and says, "Dunkin' Donuts." Sure the nearest donut place is 3 minutes away, but for this sweet boy we will drive the extra 10 minutes to get there. Plus, the donuts there are much better.
So I'm sitting at my computer at 10:48pm wondering what he's doing right now. We don't monitor him anymore, but he does have one in his room plugged in so I've got it set to listen to him until I go to bed. I haven't heard anything lately so I'm thinking he's done it. I wish I had a video monitor. Yes, for a 3 year old. It would be a waste of money for one night, I guess.
So far, he's only come out of his room once for a "nail problem." I took care of the hang nail, he went potty again, very slowly, and then we tucked him in again.
This is particularly hard for me because I myself was a finger sucker. I remember how hard it was to give up. I didn't fair too well. I think I did it until I was in 3rd grade and thought, "Hey, this isn't cool anymore." I loved that finger just like Dylan loves that thumb. It may sound silly to those non-suckers like Greg, but there is a real attachment there, like a favorite stuffed animal. Even my friend Robbie, a fellow thumb sucker, and I discussed this a few times.
Anyway, I'm off to pray that he can do it and gets donuts in the morning. I would be so proud of him. It really makes me want to cry because it is so hard for him to fall asleep without the thumb. He's such a trooper and really tries whatever we want him to do. Just like last July, I think this is the hardest thing we've ever tried to get him to do. I'm hoping that I can look back at this milestone, like the last one. Potty training doesn't seem that bad now. Sure, there were accidents and regression at times, but he did it. I know he can do this too!
I love you, Dylan! Good luck. Mommy is thinking of you!
Well, tonight as I sit here the poor baby is keeping his band aid on his thumb for Dunkin' Donuts in the morning. If you ever look closely in any picture of Dylan from 2 on he always has a band aid on his right thumb. Why you ask? Its a reminder not to suck his thumb.
We started this when he went to preschool as a Cubbie Bear. We thought, "Hey, he isn't talking much, maybe its his thumb!" Well, I'm not sure that theory is true now, because Logan is a thumb sucker too and he chats up a storm at the same age Dylan was quiet, but the band aid is a way for him to keep it out. Now he definitely talks more without it. He's quite an inspiration to others too (ha!). Logan asks for one at least twice a week and Dylan's friend Morgan in school, a fellow thumb sucker, asked her mom for one a couple of times. It cracks me up.
Anyway, so he wears a band aid in the morning. If he makes it through lunch, which is about 99% of the time, he gets bubble gum. This is kind of just a given now as it really isn't difficult for him to do that. We just were lazy and haven't upped the anty.
We take the band aid off at nap time. When we introduced it, we always said, "Since we are a big boy, we only suck our thumb when we are sleeping." Then when he wakes up, most days we put another band aid on. Yes we need stock in Johnson and Johnson's!
So tonight in the bath, Greg, who has been wanting to do this for a long time, says "Dylan, if you keep your band aid on all night, we'll go get donuts in the morning." Logan of course chimes in at this point, "Donut Holes!" Dylan gets all excited saying he can do it and says, "Dunkin' Donuts." Sure the nearest donut place is 3 minutes away, but for this sweet boy we will drive the extra 10 minutes to get there. Plus, the donuts there are much better.
So I'm sitting at my computer at 10:48pm wondering what he's doing right now. We don't monitor him anymore, but he does have one in his room plugged in so I've got it set to listen to him until I go to bed. I haven't heard anything lately so I'm thinking he's done it. I wish I had a video monitor. Yes, for a 3 year old. It would be a waste of money for one night, I guess.
So far, he's only come out of his room once for a "nail problem." I took care of the hang nail, he went potty again, very slowly, and then we tucked him in again.
This is particularly hard for me because I myself was a finger sucker. I remember how hard it was to give up. I didn't fair too well. I think I did it until I was in 3rd grade and thought, "Hey, this isn't cool anymore." I loved that finger just like Dylan loves that thumb. It may sound silly to those non-suckers like Greg, but there is a real attachment there, like a favorite stuffed animal. Even my friend Robbie, a fellow thumb sucker, and I discussed this a few times.
Anyway, I'm off to pray that he can do it and gets donuts in the morning. I would be so proud of him. It really makes me want to cry because it is so hard for him to fall asleep without the thumb. He's such a trooper and really tries whatever we want him to do. Just like last July, I think this is the hardest thing we've ever tried to get him to do. I'm hoping that I can look back at this milestone, like the last one. Potty training doesn't seem that bad now. Sure, there were accidents and regression at times, but he did it. I know he can do this too!
I love you, Dylan! Good luck. Mommy is thinking of you!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Daily Dylan Happenings - Sweet and Not so Sweet
Dylan Drawing and Description:
"This is a picture of God." (How sweet is that? God wasn't even mentioned before this cute thought.)
Dylan Quote:
Me: Did you throw that car?
D: No.
Me: How did it get all the way over there?
D: By itself.
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