Pacifier or thumb-sucking until age 4?

Mrs.K&C

DD went to a pediatric dentist yesterday for her first visit - really just a check up, get started on regular dental visits kind of thing. We did discuss her thumb sucking, as she is showing dental signs of it (one front tooth has moved forward a bit, and she sometimes uses a crossbite). She only sucks her thumb when she is tired/falling asleep but she's almost 2, so that's more frequent than it seems.

Her dentist said in order to avoid long term effects of thumb sucking or paci use, she wants them completely off by age 4. At age 3 she said she'd give us some technique to start help weaning them, but from age 2-3 to do absolutely nothing but ignore it - that trying to get them to stop actually makes them do it more and they just aren't at an age where they understand.

I honestly haven't done any research on the subject as of yet, but I have to admit her point of view worked for me! I think DD needs it to self-soothe and I'm happy she has an outlet for that. My only concern was long term dental or jaw issues and she put those at ease with our conversation.

Your thoughts? I know a lot of people try to break paci use by around 2. Any other reasons I'm ignoring besides dental ones? Not judging at all here, I'm just trying to see if I'm missing something because I liked what her dentist had to say.

tri_bride05

M is also showing signs of his pacifier use - his dentist referred to it as an "open bite". M's dentist thought we should get rid of his now, but definitely by age 3. The problem we have is that the baby takes a pacifier so M is asking for it a lot more these days (he only gets it in his crib for naps and night). I've added it to my list of things I'm putting off....that list is getting long :-(

mcunningham

well i have two kids who absolutely have refused the paci and i am fine with that. paige is starting to suck her thumb and i have no problem with it all. i (as embarrased as i am to say this!) sucked my thumb until around 5 or 6. i only did it at night when i fell asleep and i had to have braces because of it.

i know i am in the minority but i totally prefer thumb sucking to pacifier use because i have had countless friends tell me that they replace the paci up to 10 times at night! that is NUTS! you cant ever lose the thumb

Go Dux

DD had a pacifier until age 2.  The day she turned 2 we went cold turkey...not because of dental reasons, but because I think kids over the age of do not need a pacifier. 

Now, DS sucks his thumb and I am unsure how to wean him of that at a later time.  He refused to take the paci after 4 months, went strait to the thumb.  I will be worried about dental issues though if he continues after the age of 2.

ladipale

I will admit that I sucked my thumb well past age 4. My parents tried to get me to stop numerous times. I even tried to get myself to stop a few times. I kept sucking my thumb even when I got my first round of braces.  my teeth were horrendous, and actually, I still have issues (I basically have no roots in my 2 top front teeth). I had braces for 11 years.

If you can get her to stop, I say do it!

NorcalLinds

I would love to get rid of the paci around age two. Right now would be great, but with the new baby coming, I don't want to get into a paci war with Logan/new baby.

My coworker has a daughter that sucked her thumb. At her 3 year bday, they put a band aid over her thumb and told her big girls don't suck their thumbs she never sucked it again. Her MIL used that technique to wean her son. My coworker thought MIL was full of sh** but it worked. She never sucked her thumb again. They kept quite the collection of bandaids around for awhile.

RevJG

DD was never a paci or thumb sucker, but her BFF still uses the paci at nap time and at bedtime.  BFF's pedi was completely unconcerned about it and said my friend should start thinking about weaning her from it at around 3.  I just took my DD to the dentist though and the very first thing they asked about was paci/thumb so it definitely seems that people are all over the board about it.

Mrs_Shmoopie

Ugh, I just have no idea what to do about the whole thumb-sucking thing...  J never took to a pacifier so I love that he's been able to use it to self-soothe but I can already see signs w/his front teeth.  DH said he read somewhere that they're okay thumb-sucking w/little permanent damage until their baby teeth fall out but who knows...  Like a pp said, theories seem to be all over the place.  I think next time around (if there is a next time) I would try harder to push the pacifier.  Maybe.  I dunno, I'll just continue to do whatever works for us now and deal w/the consequences later!