Does your LO suck his/her thumb?

elviebird · June 2012

If so, how do you feel about it? Will you try to break the habit?

elviebird · June 2012

DD has been mouthing her hand for awhile now and just yesterday managed to actually get her thumb in her mouth. On the one hand I figure babies will be babies and theres no point in stopping something that she obviously enjoys. On the other, I wonder if it will be harmful in the long run. I sucked my thumb until I was 7 and I did have to get retainers and spacers ( the retainer was the only reason I stopped because it hurt to suck my thumb!). I've read that it's not a problem less you allow it to continue past the toddler years. Just wondering how everyone else feels.

Lynnette171 · June 2012

The LC told us when we went at 10 days that babies that young usually can't suck their thumbs. DS proceeded to put his hand up with fingers splayed and stick his thumb in his mouth in front of her. My speech therapist friend was also shocked.

At this point, I'm letting him go. But yes, as he gets older I will try to break him of it. I worked in early intervention and had a close relationship with the speech therapists in particular. Thumb sucking can affect speech, among other things.

babyruth88 · June 2012

Ava sucks on her hand alot. Thanks for the advice about the pacifier trick when she starts doing that. I cant stand thumb sucking especially since i see it so much in older toddlers still

picklesx · June 2012

My LO doesnt suck his thumb but when he gets hungry and is propped up on our shoulders and his hands are right in front of him he will mouth them. I dont think that he tries to do it to soothe himself like normal thumb suckers but rather just because he is hungry and thinks that if he puts something in his mouth and sucks that something will come out

if he cant get his mouth on his hands he will suck on our arms or shoulders instead until he gets a bottle. Its pretty funny actually to see

mrsshawnavanb · June 2012

DD has only sucked her thumb one time. She was about 4 weeks old, and we were at a lactation meeting waiting to have her weighed and I looked down and she had her thumb in her mouth. I have never seen her do it since. She's not into pacifiers that much so I don't forsee it being a problem. I will probably allow it until she's older and then try to break her of it.

Elviebird, I sent you a PM. I don't check mine often, so figured I should give you a heads up

becketts · June 2012

DD2 can get her hands into her mouth fairly well. DD1 did the same thing and never developed a thumb-sucking habit.

[Deleted User] · June 2012

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Divashrink1982 · June 2012

DS sucks his hands and sometimes finds his thumb. He tries to "eat" his hand when he's hungry but also tries to suck his thumb when he is trying to self-soothe. I am not trying to break him of it at this point (he also takes a bink like a pro). I am proud that he's trying to start to self-soothe and probably won't work on breaking him of this until he is old enough to develop other self-soothing strategies.

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