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April 2012 Moms
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Like the pacifier post, how long for thumb sucking?

HoffmaniaHoffmania
in April 2012 Moms
DS is giving up on the pacifier on his own, but loves his thumb/fingers/whole freakin' hand. I think its the teething. He mostly wants to chew. But he does like to suck his thumb to soothe at night. Thoughts on how long I should let that go? I've heard you just calmly pull their hand from their mouth, but at what age is it effective? Same timing as the pacifier? Two years and under? Or should I start earlier since I cant take away his thumb, possibly making it a harder habit to break.

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Re: Like the pacifier post, how long for thumb sucking?

  • AmandaR204AmandaR204 member

    imageHoffmania:
    DS is giving up on the pacifier on his own, but loves his thumb/fingers/whole freakin' hand. I think its the teething. He mostly wants to chew. But he does like to suck his thumb to soothe at night. Thoughts on how long I should let that go? I've heard you just calmly pull their hand from their mouth, but at what age is it effective? Same timing as the pacifier? Two years and under? Or should I start earlier since I cant take away his thumb, possibly making it a harder habit to break.

     

    WELL I hear to keep pulling away. My cousin let her daughter suck so bad and so long that during the winter she got an infection on her thumb and her thumb was significantly skinner than her other fingers. They bandaged it and she stopped sucking and completely forgot about it. I would say keep moving his hand, don't let him thumb suck to soothe at night, maybe try gloves? It's up to you but thumb sucking is a beyatch to break 

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  • Harper'smomHarper'smom
    As long as it is not causing her any problems as long as needed, within reason. I sucked my thumb and stopped without any big to do. It's not a big deal IMO. I love that this one sucks her thumb and has an extra coping mechanism when I can't get to her right away because of #1.
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  • Ruby412Ruby412 member

    imageHarper'smom:
    As long as it is not causing her any problems as long as needed, within reason. I sucked my thumb and stopped without any big to do. It's not a big deal IMO. I love that this one sucks her thumb and has an extra coping mechanism when I can't get to her right away because of #1.

    Me too. My LO sucks her thumb or two middle fingers to soothe herself. It's how she calms down and also how she goes to sleep. I'm not worried about it right now. I was a thumb sucker and did have to get some not-so-fun dental devices to fix my teeth. But, lots of kids need retainers and things. So, for us, I'm going to let her suck away and work on it when she's older.


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  • BelleWithABladeBelleWithABlade member
    My LO is a paci boy and doesn't suck his thumb (yet ;)).  I'll just tell you my experience as a surgeon.  I'm trained in pedi craniofacial surgery although I don't do it right now.  It is exceedingly rare for kids to develop dental or facial growth problems from thumb sucking since almost all kids stop on their own by age 3-4.  We don't recommend doing anything to stop the habit unless the kid is an aggressive sucker and still going after 4.5 years or so ;)  
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