[SuziQ]

You can try the bribery thing by doing it in smaller steps. Get some little toys, figurines of a movie or tv show that he likes, and wrap them so he can't see what they are. Then let him open one when he's gone a couple of days without sucking, then stretch it a couple of days each time. We tried this when Joseph was potty training, and it worked great.

I have no problem bribing kids to get them to change their behavior. ;o)

[Corin Stormhands]

You know, some days you just get up on the wrong side of the Internet...

[TalonDJ]

The problem with the thumb thing, at least for me, was that it was totally subconscious. I would only notice I was doing it after I had started doing it and even then not instantly. The bad tasting stuff was mainly a way I knew, instantly the moment I started to and it built up a mental association with the bad taste that burned away the habit. Mileage may vary.

[g'nad]

I was buying the Yoda mask anyway, and thought after I ordered it that it would be the perfect thing to bribe him with. We've tried his favorite candy, and it worked for a couple of days and then sucking his thumb became more important again. With Yoda, he'll get the mask, but it'll go back in the box if he starts up again. I'm a mean mom. :-)

Mrsnad