Paci vs Thumb - help please

kat.in.the.hat · September 2010

So we have a thumbsucker on our hands - the new baby, not Marion.

Marion would barely even take a pacifier, so this is all new to me. Do you think it's better to have a thumbsucker (can't lose it, don't need multiples of it, it's always there for them) or do you think it's better to have a baby who takes a paci?

If this strong sucking hangs around (and it's been present since her 20 week u/s) should we just try to help her find her thumb in the hospital or should we make sure to take a paci with us?

Also, is one better for helping (or at least not hindering) BFing than the other?

mom2ll · September 2010

both our kids use/used pacis. Our pedi said that you're better off to have something that you can eventually take away. We broke Luca when we put him in the big boy bed at about 17-18 months. Lila is in for it soon... We're down to naps and witching hour....

They have them at the hospital if you want them. I acutally bought a few to have on hand. My kids each like a different kind.

Cajun_gal · September 2010

I'd personally rather have a paci sucker than a thumb sucker. You can't take away a thumb. I'm watching my friends try to convince their almost 5 year old to quit sucking their thumb. Dylan takes a paci and is just now starting to sometimes chew his thumb. I'm hoping he doesn't start doing it more often. He only gets his paci in his crib.

princessmah · September 2010

Ditto pp. I think I'd rather have something that can be taken away when you need to. I have a paci taker and we just have several hanging around. She liked it more when she was younger, but now it's mostly just a soothing thing right before a nap.

kat.in.the.hat · September 2010

bpaullo:

They have them at the hospital if you want them. I acutally bought a few to have on hand. My kids each like a different kind.

Methodist doesn't have them (or at least they didn't when Marion was born) so we'll have to take our own if we go that route

monkaloo · September 2010

Maren was a thumbsucker. She started off with a paci and by 3 months she wanted absolutely nothing to do with it anymore. By that point she was all about the thumb

In more positive news, she eventually weaned herself off the thumbsucking somewhere around 3 years old. We didn't have to "force" her or do anything to encourage her to quit. She just slowly did it on her own.

I'd bring the paci and see how it goes. She may end up starting out with it and moving over to the thumb once she's a bit older.

ddr262 · September 2010

Aiden was sucking his thumb during most of our ultrasounds and he is neither a thumb sucker or pacifier taker now (if that makes you feel any better

). They did give him a pacifier in the hospital while under the lights for jaundice, but once at home he never really took it again. I think if he stuck with the thumb sucking I would have tried to divert him to a pacifier (with the goal of taking it away before 1). I am not sure if one is better than the other in regards to BF. I know babies who use both and have no BF issues. I do think that some of the "pacifying" nursing in the beginning can help bring in your milk supply. BTW, did you meet with Sandy yet? Just curious. I hope you are feeling great! Not much longer

charlotteL · September 2010

Joshua took a paci and gabriel is all about his fingers. At 12 months I took the paci from J and he never looked back. As you know G will be 2 next week...he still sucks his fingers. It seems to have actually become worse lately. I really wish I could just take it away.

Nanner · September 2010

Hannah is a thumb sucker. I tried to convert her to the pacifier when she was a newborn, but she didn't take to it. (Even in the hospital when she had the soothie in her mouth, she stuck her thumb into the hole so she was sucking on the soothie and her thumb at the same time!)

She's 3 1/2 now, and although she still sucks it, it's generally only when she's tired, or when she's upset and trying to calm down. I don't ever really worry about it. She'll stop when she's ready.

TexasSmith · September 2010

I'd much rather have a thumb sucker than a paci sucker. Kids drop the thumb on their own when they're ready, but it seems like there's something emotional about the paci that makes it much more difficult to try to take away.

Natalie sucks her thumb really only when she's tired or for comfort (in tandem with her lovey). I don't worry about it...she'll quit when she's ready.

Also, most babies in utero suck their thumbs just because it's a natural place to put their hands since there isn't a lot of room in there. I don't think there is really any correlation between doing it in utero and once born. Newborns don't really have the coordination to deliberately get a thumb (or anything, for that matter) into their mouths anyway. That comes later.

kat.in.the.hat · September 2010

TexasSmith:
Also, most babies in utero suck their thumbs just because it's a natural place to put their hands since there isn't a lot of room in there. I don't think there is really any correlation between doing it in utero and once born. Newborns don't really have the coordination to deliberately get a thumb (or anything, for that matter) into their mouths anyway. That comes later.

That's good to know. Marion always had her hands by her face, but never sucked on her thumb/hand/fist. So it was different for us to see a baby who was actually doing it.

I know lots of babies are born with a strong suck reflex and I was wondering if I should introduce her thumb in the hospital or bring pacis with us. I guess I'll do both and see what happens.

DDR - I'm calling her this week. Finding her still sucking her fingers was the catalyst I needed to give her a call because I realized I still have a bunch of questions!

AggieDee · September 2010

I've got one of each! Jackson is a thumb sucker and has been from day one. He never would take any type of paci whatsoever. It's great that his thumb was always there for him and he will eventually stop on his own. The way I see it....you never see a kid accepting their high school diploma sucking their thumb, lol.

Reese is a paci addict. Again, she has been from day one. I have no idea when I will wean her. She is such a great sleeper so I really don't want to mess with that anytime soon.

I think each one has their pros and cons and no matter what you want or try to do, the baby will do what they need to do to find their own source of comfort, be it a thumb, a finger or a paci.

readyforbaby · September 2010

I'm in the paci club. There was a short period of time maybe around 5 months when DS seemed like he was going to become a thumb sucker but we just replaced the thumb with the paci and that is what he stuck with. At 1 we limited the paci to naps and bedtime only. We haven't had any issues with that.

kreeper611 · September 2010

Paci. Personally, I can't comment on the long term. I just know that a friend has a kid who is a thumbsucker and getting him to stop is turning out to be a nightmare. I would much rather fight something I can throw away.

Cooper almost was a thumbsucker. About 3 months he started sucking his and we would pull it out and put the paci in. I even had daycare do that for us as well. Now he doesn't even bother with the thumb.

He likes the paci, but doesn't have to have it. And only likes the Soothies. If we don't have one, he's fine. I give it to him usually in the car or if he wakes up overnight, but he's never been one to just crawl around with it all day.

savannah11 · September 2010

I had a dental implant put in my mouth when I was young to keep me from sucking my thumb anymore. It was starting to shift my bite. So I have vowed my kids would have the paci before the thumb to avoid that.

SigmundsGirl · September 2010

savannah11:
I had a dental implant put in my mouth when I was young to keep me from sucking my thumb anymore. It was starting to shift my bite. So I have vowed my kids would have the paci before the thumb to avoid that.

Ditto. I had the exact same thing.I'm in the paci crowd.

KKMMex · September 2010

AggieDee:

I think each one has their pros and cons and no matter what you want or try to do, the baby will do what they need to do to find their own source of comfort, be it a thumb, a finger or a paci.

I agree with this. E. is a thumb sucker still at age 2.5. I've made no attempts to make her stop.

rayskit10 · September 2010

KKMMex:
AggieDee:

I think each one has their pros and cons and no matter what you want or try to do, the baby will do what they need to do to find their own source of comfort, be it a thumb, a finger or a paci.
I agree with this. E. is a thumb sucker still at age 2.5. I've made no attempts to make her stop.

Yup. If your baby wants to suck her thumb/fingers for comfort, they will find their way to her mouth.

T had a paci and I, for the most part, am in the "paci camp." BUT i do think the baby will chose and I wouldn't have denied him his thumb had he wanted it.

I can say that Mathis was shaping up to be a thumb sucker but he was swaddled from day 1 and i think not being able to have it might have avoided it. another BUT, though: he wouldn't take a paci, either, so i don't think he had the super strong suck-for-comfort thing. he also self weaned at 13 mos.

But, I say let her do what she wants. My mom sucked her thumb until she was 7 (gasp) and is a normal, functioning adult. Not to say that it's great or normal to do it for that long, but she did eventually quit on her own.

rustylee32905 · September 2010

We prefer the paci. I think it's better to be able to take the paci away when it's time. but a thumb is attached... can't take it away...

MrsMGR · September 2010

I think it is cute that you are already worried about this and she isn't even born yet.

Joe never took a paci and always sucked his thumb. He has essentially weaned himself of thumbsucking probably around 2 yrs old and does it only occasionally when he is really sleepy...I fact,I can't even remember the last time I saw him suck it.

I agree with the others that you have to let your child soothe themselves however they see fit and they'll eventually drop whichever way they have chosen, when they're ready. I've never seen someone in college with a paci or sucking his/her thumb ;-)

kat.in.the.hat · September 2010

MrsMGR:

I think it is cute that you are already worried about this and she isn't even born yet.

Cute, or obsessive and crazy? Smile

I think we'll leave the pacis at home when we go to the hospital and just help her find her thumb. I know the best thing is for me to be her paci in those first few days to help my milk to come in. So we'll start with the boo & thumb and see how it goes.

alisa1228 · September 2010

inutero, paige was also a thumbsucker!

now, she won't take to a paci (although she loved it the 2nd day in the hospital), and the only thing she wants is the boob... so who knows? i'm now attempting to try different pacis to see if she will take a different one, bc being a human paci is no fun!

it never occurred to me try to help her find her thumb, but i'm in the paci camp over the thumb...

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Paci vs Thumb - help please

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