I was going to look into my mosquito-bite question this week, when I spotted this question-and-answer exchange on the web site of the American Academy of Pediatrics. (Look for the link under "early childhood.") While it's not a question any of you suggested, I think the answer might be helpful to some of you:

The question is how to get a child to stop sucking his thumb. The answer, the experts at the AAP say, is basically to ignore it. Harsh words and punishment, they say, won't work.

What will? Praise and star charts for when the child does leave his thumb alone. And distraction is also recommended, especially for a child who sucks him thumb while he's bored in the car, watching TV, etc.

The AAP says that if you notice changes in the roof of your child's mouth or in the way his teeth are lining up because of thumb-sucking, you should talk to your pediatrician or pediatric dentist. There may be a device he can wear to help him stop.