(Infrequently) Asked Questions

 

1. What should I do if my child is able to pull his/her thumb from underneath the thumbguard?
2. What should I do if my child is able to remove his / her finger from underneath the FingerGuard?
3. What should I do if I find redness or other reactions in areas covered by the plastic tube?
4. What does the thumb sucking treatment kit consist of?
5. How do I know what size to order?
6. If the tube extends further than the thumb, does that mean the Thumbguard size is too large?
7. What should I do if excess moisture collects underneath the Thumbguard (or Fingerguard)?
8. How can I choose the proper size of ThumbGuard / FingerGuard™ treatment kit?
9. My child is either larger or smaller than other children his / her age OR I am concerned that the size recommended for my child will not fit. What do I do?
 

 


 

Q What should I do if my child is able to pull his/her thumb from underneath the thumbguard?

A. If your child can remove the appliance, an additional step can be taken. If there is a reasonable amount of space/clearance between the thumb and tube, you can use a piece of ¾” wide non-stretchable (vinyl or silk backing) medical tape to roll several layers around the thumb knuckle to impede the child’s ability to bend the thumb and remove the device.

If the child is able to pull his / her thumb from underneath the appliance, then most likely the appliance has not been adjusted properly. This usually occurs regardless of the tightness in the bracelet, but rather, when the bracelet is inserted through the wrong openings in the extensions.

- Begin by locating the shortest extension (one of 3 branching out from the tube). It lies parallel to the thumb, which points down toward the wrist. On this extension, locate the openings through which the bracelet is inserted. You must use the next higher opening, the one closer to the ThumbGuard tube. When doing this, make sure the bracelet is slightly above the wrist area. Later, this extension will be pulled down so that the bracelet surrounds the thinnest area of the wrist (the part of the wrist with the smallest circumference).
- Locate the two remaining extensions, both of which should be longer than the one mentioned above. Of the two, one is narrower than the other. Thread the narrower extension through the next slit that is higher (or closer to the tube) on the wider extension. This should make the intersection where the narrow extension passes through the wider extension sit slightly higher on the hand. Thread the bracelet through the first 2 available slits immediately after intersection in the two extensions.
- With the bracelet now slightly above the wrist, pull firmly down on the extensions until the bracelet is wrapped around the thinnest part of the wrist. There is no need to fasten the bracelet tightly on the wrist, as the extensions create the necessary tension to prevent the child from removing his / her thumb from underneath.
- If the appliance has been adjusted properly, the child should not be able to remove the appliance. The tube covering the thumb should sit firmly on the base of the child’s hand, and when pulled, should not move.

Q. What should I do if my child is able to remove his / her finger from underneath the FingerGuard?

A. The child is able to remove his / her finger from underneath the FingerGuard when the appliance has not been adjusted correctly. This occurs when the bracelet has been inserted through the row of slanted holes that is too low (or far from the tube). To correct this problem, simply thread the bracelet through a row of slanted slits that is higher on the appliance (or closer to the tubes).

-Begin by locating the two extensions. Thread the bracelet through the row of slits that places the bracelet slightly above the wrist, near the base of the hand. Repeat on the other side.
- Pull down the appliance so that the bracelet surrounds the thinnest part of the wrist. When you fasten the bracelet, it is unnecessary to make it tight because the tension in the appliance depends on the row of slits chosen.
- An additional step can be taken to assure that the child is not able to remove the device. If there is a reasonable amount of space/clearance between the finger and tube, you can use a band aid or a piece of ¾” wide non-stretchable medical tape to roll several layers around the second joint (from the tip of the finger) to impede the child’s ability to bend the finger and remove the device.

Q. What should I do if I find redness or other reactions in areas covered by the plastic tube?

A. A very small percentage of younger children, due to higher skin sensitivity, develop a rash or redness in the areas that are covered by the plastic. Though the plastic is medical grade material with no toxicity and no harmful phthalates (a type of chemical), the reaction can be the result of condensation, saliva, and the accumulation of bacteria in a confined and warm environment. You should immediately stop using the device and take all steps to heal the skin. Usually, keeping the skin dry and / or using over the counter remedies, heal the skin rather quickly. You may resume using the device, but take the following precautionary steps:

- Be sure that the skin is always dry and clean. You can accomplish this by removing the device more often than daily for cleaning and drying, or by simply using a hair dryer for drying the thumb / finger without removing the device.
- Applying a thin layer of any baby hydrophobic cream before putting on the device creates a moisture barrier and can also be helpful.

Q. What does the thumb sucking treatment kit consist of?

A. ThumbGuard™ – thumb sucking treatment kit consists of:
- TWO (2) ambidextrous ThumbGuard™ devices,
- SIXTY (60) multicolored bracelets, which are lockable (like hospital wrist bands)
- ONE (1) video CD/CD ROM
- ONE (1) printed instructional sheet.

FingerGuard™ - finger sucking treatment kit consists of
- ONE (1) FingerGuard™ device
- FIFTY (50) multicolored bracelets, which are lockable (like hospital wrist bands)
- ONE (1) video CD/CD ROM
- ONE (1) printed instructional sheet.

Q. How do I know what size to order?

A. The proper size selection is based on child’s age and your description of the child’s physical development. In many situations we recommend to use a larger size to allow more air circulation around the digit, thus reducing condensation and allowing accumulated moisture to dry faster. For example: if a child is 6 years old with the physical development of a 7 year old, we would recommend a large size ThumbGuard™ for children 7 and up.

Q. If the tube extends further than the thumb, does that mean the Thumbguard size is too large?

A. No. The only important parameter concerning size is diameter;
there should be a clearance between the thumb and appliance to allow a suction-breaking airflow. If you feel that the child would feel more comfortable with a shorter tube, you can trim it to expose the very tip of the child’s thumb.

Q. What should I do if excess moisture collects underneath the Thumbguard (or Fingerguard)?

A. Condensation can accumulate under the device due to a lack of ventilation, causing possibility of redness, irritation, or discomfort. To prevent this from happening, here are a few steps you can take:

- Apply a hydrophobic cream (such as calendula cream, Vaseline, Desitin, etc) to the child’s skin before putting on the device. We do not recommend using alcohol-based hand sanitizers or hand wipes because the alcohol dries out the skin without creating a protective film or barrier, making it easier for moisture to penetrate.

- Use a hairdryer several times a day to dry the child’s skin.

-Create small holes –around ¼”- in the device to allow easier air circulation, using a tool such as a hole punch, belt punch, or scissors.

Q. How can I choose the proper size of ThumbGuard / FingerGuard™ treatment kit?

A. General approach to selection
If you find that your child is between two sizes, we recommend you select the larger size, for the following reasons:
Choosing a larger size will guarantee better air flow inside the tube to prevent a seal being created by sucking.
Improved ventilation inside the tube will reduce condensation and moisture in order to avoid any possible skin irritation.

We strongly advise against sharing ThumbGuard/FingerGuard™ with other users because the material which these devices are made of cannot be sterilized, and an infection could be transmitted from one user to another.

SMALL SIZE
Children under 4 years old who weigh less than 32 lbs
Children who weigh up to 36 lbs, who are taller than average but have fine bone structure
Children over 4 years old who are small for their age (the size of an average 3-4 child)

MEDIUM SIZE
Children 5-6 years old who weigh between 35 and 55 lbs
Children under 5 years old whose physical development is above average (weight and height)
Children over 6 years old who are small for their age (the size of an average 5-6 year old child)
Children over 6 six years old who are tall for their age but have fine bone structure

LARGE SIZE
Children 7 years old and up who weigh over 55 lbs
Children under 7 years old whose physical development is above average (weight and height)

Q.My child is either larger or smaller than other children his / her age OR I am concerned that the size recommended for my child will not fit. What do I do?

If you are having trouble choosing a size for your child for any reason (some children are larger or smaller than others their age), consult the table below, based on thumb circumference measurements.

To measure the circumference of your child's thumb, simply take any thin string and wrap it around the thickest part of your child's thumb. When the string has fully covered the thumb once, without overlapping, use a ruler to determine the length of the string. Then take the resulting length, in inches, and locate the appropriate size in the table below.

Circumference, in Inches:
up to 1.57 in.
1.57 to 1.96 in.
1.96 to 2.36 in.

Recommended Appliance Size:

Small
Medium
Large

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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