Pacifiers vs. Thumb-sucking?

iheartbooks · May 2014

LO is 7 weeks and we haven't used a paci yet. I was worried that we should use one at night since it is supposed to lower SIDS risk but DH really doesn't want to- he's afraid she'll be addicted to it forever.

However, when I mentioned this to some friends today they told me its better to use the paci to soothe her because you can eventually take it away, but if she learns to soothe by sucking her fist/thumb she will do that for ages and there's no way to stop it since you can't "take it away." Does anyone have thoughts/experience with this? I'm not sure what is better. Thanks!

myfriendscallmemeg · May 2014

My husband was hesitant towards a pacifier at first, but I used the "we can't take her thumb away" argument on him.

Plus once he realized it's like a baby mute button he was on board with giving that baby the binky! We also gave her one early, she had her first binky in the hospital.

fish8412 · May 2014

I agree with your friends. Weaning off the pacifier will be easier than fingers/thumb because you can take the pacifier away. We introduced a pacifier at around 4 weeks and only use it as a last resort to soothe LO. It really does help calm her down every now and then. I don't think she is addicted at all to the pacifier.

SurpriseAt39 · May 2014

I have 3 kids.
None of them has ever had a pacifier.

DD sucked her thumb 1 day. Ever.

DS1 sucked his first 2 finger of his hand off and on (very rarely) for a couple months. Now he chews on his fingers (he's cutting his molars). I don't think I will have a problem with him.

DS2 occasionally sucks a finger or thumb (he's 8 weeks) when he's hungry while waiting for me.

I have no intention to give him a pacifier. It would drive me crazy to have to 'pop it back in' like so many parents do,...or have to search for it when it gets dropped/lost. I also do not like the looks of them.

Some kids need it. Some kids don't.
Do what you feel is right for your family.

ProudMommy030614 · May 2014

Ds1 had a binkie which he gave up at 2 years old. Ds2 didn't want one and he never sucked his thumb. But he does have a blankie that at 8 yeas old he still treats like its a family member and tries to take it everywhere! Ds3 isn't into binkies or thumbs. I so hope he doesn't go for the blankie thing too, it's impossible to wean from it!

rachthebaj · May 2014

I'm doing my best not to worry about this yet since he is still so little, however he has been looking desperately for his thumb. He has found it once or twice now, and as I mentioned in a previous thread I'm hoping he won't turn out to be one of the kids who still thumb sucks in middle school. As much as I'd rather him get attached to a paci if anything, he doesn't really like them. Spits them out. I've tried soothies, mam, and nuk. But low and behold he prefers his hand second to the boob. #-o

BTBergstrom · May 2014

We use the paci and she loves it. It helps her soothe herself and since it is part of the 5s I am fine with it. Our lo hasn't successfully figured out how to suck her hand/thumb. She tries to shove her whole fist in her mouth and gets frusturated.

ufsandra85 · May 2014

James uses a paci sometimes at daycare usually he sucks on his fist. I like the fist because unlike the paci it doesn't fall out

amdecker1016 · May 2014

Mia only takes the paci when she is tired. Otherwise she wants her whole fist. Looks like i get the best of both worlds....yeah right!

SmittyPants · May 2014

I'm the oddball and wish he would find his thumb. He loves to suck, most babies do, and him being able to do it himself would make life easier. Both my kids will likely need orthodontia work since both DH and I did, so I'm already prepared for that.

CruiseGirl28 · May 2014

Isla wants to suck her thumb so bad. She loves her paci, but the day she can suck her thumb easily, I think it will be out the door

SassyFlats · May 2014

Kara won't take a pacifier and is trying desperately to find her thumb. I'm not worried about it. There are bigger problems in life.

That said, I had a security blanket well into middle school. So..... yeah. I still like fuzzy blankets. :P

iheartbooks · May 2014

Thanks, Ladies. I guess these replies made me realize that in the grand scheme of things, there ARE worse things in life. And at least if we stick with the no paci thing I never have to worry about popping it back in all the time, so there's that! My sister in law told me to stop worrying because no one sucks their thumb at their high school graduation, haha!

LittlePigeon · May 2014

Scarlett likes her paci, but she is already wanting it less at 5 weeks than she did at 3 weeks. I am hoping this means she will kinda naturally wean herself from it.

iheartbooks · May 2014

SuheyF1983 said:
Pacifier is way easier to wane. Her thumbs are hers forever. FYI. I have a friend from college and she still sucks her thumb.

Wow. While I worry about my LO sucking her thumb too long, I'm definitely not going to worry about her sucking her thumb in college. That's got to be a total outlier- I don't know any adults that suck their thumbs. Crazy!

jwls84 · May 2014

Well my DS is a pacifier kid. He still uses it, but only for bedtime. He is 2.5 and took it from 2 weeks old on.

DD won't take a pacifier and sucks on her fist sometimes. She just isn't a "sucker" like DS was/is.
I am planning on taking DS pacifier away soon though, not sure if he will put up a fight or not.

fish8412 · May 2014

jwls84 said:
Well my DS is a pacifier kid. He still uses it, but only for bedtime. He is 2.5 and took it from 2 weeks old on.

DD won't take a pacifier and sucks on her fist sometimes. She just isn't a "sucker" like DS was/is.
I am planning on taking DS pacifier away soon though, not sure if he will put up a fight or not.

Here is an idea from one of my friends. She took her son to build a bear. He put his pacifier in the stuffed animal he built. Then he slept with the stuffed animal knowing the pacifier was still with him. It worked for them and I think it's a cute idea.

MandyCakes1224 · May 2014

My LO just started trying to suck her thumb but she keeps it tucked in her fist so she hasn't found it yet. Whenever I see her trying to do it I give her the pacifier. I'm hoping she doesn't find it since it's a lot easier to take away a pacifier!!

wearebirds · May 2014

Were pushing the paci because I was a big time thumb sucker for a loooooong time and nothing helped get me to stop except having to get a palate plate put in.

Not fun.

I'd rather have the paci that I can take away. Although she still looks for her thumb....we might be fighting a losing battle.

ring_pop · May 2014

DS1 is almost 3 and still sucks his thumb. His teeth are starting to get crooked, he has a gross callous on his thumb, and I shudder to think what kind of crap he's eaten (like, dig up dirt at the park and then suck the thumb...barf). Try as we may, we can't get him to wean off the thumb.

Yeah we're pushing the paci on #2 lol.

pepperedmoth · May 2014

I would prefer LO suck his thumb but he hasn't found it yet. He can't drop his thumb and I actually think it's likely to be cleaner than a paci. I am not horrified at the prospect of weaning him off it. If he still sucks his thumb in middle school, which I doubt, he will learn interesting lessons about peer pressure and willpower. But tbh I just don't have much energy to care about this one....we put him down with one at bedtime and that's it.

Mskris66 · May 2014

This might sound like a "not so intelligent comment" But I just noticed LO sucking on his hands and fingers with extreme force...He did this early on when he was hungry so I just assumed this was starting up again and that he was starving. I'm so glad you posted this because now I realize he is looking to suck his thumb! We give him a paci at bedtime only if he is fussing around, and usually in the car. He sucks on it for a bit and then spits it out when he is asleep. Was nervous to give it to him but it really calms him down and agree it will be easier to take this away rather than his thumb when that time comes. So do you guys pop the paci in when you see them go for their thumb? Or pull their little hands away from their face? (For those who are using pacifiers of course) thanks!

rachthebaj · May 2014

Tonight I could care less if Elliott sucks gis thumb until hes 25, HE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY! He'll finish eating, unlatch, then shake his head vigorously searching for his thumb until he wakes up again and decides the only f&+©%* thing he can find is the boob. He's doing that awful tickling kind of suck and it is irritating the crap out of me. GO TO SLEEP, KID!

ProudMommy030614 · May 2014

Colton hates his pacifier he eats his hand occasionally, I am leaving it up to him if he wants to be a thumb sucker. By the third kid you learn to pick your battles

and like what @pepperedmoth‌ said if he does it in middle school he will learn all about peer pressure and willpower.

HobokensFury · May 2014

AJ just recently started taking the paci but doesn't use it all of the time. He loves to suck on his fists though.

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