Thumb sucking vs Dummy

[LittleShark]

Could someone explain me why thumb sucking is more accepted and welcomed in this country (UK) than dummy?
I have met many mums who tell me with pride - my LO sucks his/her thumb but WE DO NOT HAVE DUMMY.
Even some baby websites suggest thumb rather than dummies.
???

 

[Vici]

I'm the opposite, the min Imi stated with the thumb sucking i gave her a dummy!

 

[Zarababy1]

i have no idea i would much rarther my child have a dummy than suck there thumb! my oldest had a dummy untill about 16 months and now he doesnt, my youngest is 10 months and he only has it for sleeping or if hes really upset, you can take a dummy from a child but you cant take there thumb off them i would hate to have a 3 year old or older walking about with there thumb in same as i hate seeing kids that old with dummys!! also dummys are recomended to prevent SID's!

 

[Christine1993]

My baby doesn't have a dummy nor does he suck his thumb. But I'd rather let him suck his thumb. I hate dummies personally.

 

[Missy86]

My baby doesn't have a dummy nor does he suck his thumb. But I'd rather let him suck his thumb. I hate dummies personally.

Im the same I dont like dummies but Rhys has started sucking his thumb on his own. At least he can find his own thumb and I dont have to do dummy runs in the night I suppose

 

[amynorange]

i have no idea i would much rarther my child have a dummy than suck there thumb! my oldest had a dummy untill about 16 months and now he doesnt, my youngest is 10 months and he only has it for sleeping or if hes really upset, you can take a dummy from a child but you cant take there thumb off them i would hate to have a 3 year old or older walking about with there thumb in same as i hate seeing kids that old with dummys!! also dummys are recomended to prevent SID's!

I haven't heard of this. Haven't been told about this by anyone and it isn't in that "Prevention of SIDS" book thing that you get. Why is this? My LO won't take a dummy and prefer's his thumb and fingers.

 

[Vici]

I haven't heard of this. Haven't been told about this by anyone and it isn't in that "Prevention of SIDS" book thing that you get. Why is this? My LO won't take a dummy and prefer's his thumb and fingers.

https://fsid.org.uk/Page.aspx?pid=585

https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article755572.ece

 

[binxyboo]

Dummies can be taken away - thumbs cannot.

I personally don't like either, but my LO has a dummy so that I can remove it at a later date.

 

[sjminimac]

it's something to do with the sucking reflex, it's the same as with breast feeding when they suck their thumb but the same as with a bottle when they have a dodie. Charlie wouldn't take a dummy or a bottle for ages, but has very recently started to have a dummy so i'm hopeful he'll take bottles of ebm soon too x

 

[mrsp14]

My LO won't take a dummy but she occasionally manages to get her thumb in her mouth. I don't particuarlarly like eitheras i think when they reach 2-3 years it can get in the way of speech, but if it has to be one then i'd rather her thumb and i'll just have to teach her not to do it all the time!!!

 

[ricschick]

i think its because its a natural comfort to the baby rather then the parent giving a false comfort. if that makes sense
i dont like dummies personally but jamie and emma both suck their thumbs but as i say its a natural comfort to them.
but they only suck it when going to sleep mostly not all the time and emma has been able to speak brillantly since she was 2 and she never sucks it while we're out as i say just at bedtimes. but i do remind her not to as id like her to grow out of it.

 

[Janiepops]

I would rather he took a dummy, and he does. My sister sucked her thumb for years and pushed her front teeth forwards so they stuck out! And I sucked my thumb so much I grew a big lump on my thumb they had to cut off lol

 

[Missy86]

I should add that Rhys only sucks his thumb while goig to sleep but not all the time.
He sucks on his muslin more lol

 

[sjminimac]

charlie's just started sucking his muslin too!

 

[vaniilla]

I think its because sucking a dummy is something you introduce and sucking their thumb is something they pick up by themselves iykwim? some scientists say that you pick up the habit from the womb, really I think each to their own and I don't personally see a difference between the two.

 

[curlykate]

LO sucks his thumb, which I prefer!!
I've seen parents of older kids use Dummys to "shut their kids up" so to speak. The child didn't need it, but the parent kept shoving it in their mouth anyways (and this was a 4 year old!!) I used to work in daycare, so I've seen all kinds of dummy "horrors"! Parents used to get us to do the dirty work when they didn't want their kid to have a dummy.
I've also seen kids freak out if they don't have their dummy, and heard of parents complaining about dummy-runs in the middle of the night, when their children spit them out.
I prefer the thumb, because it's always with them...there's no accidentally leaving it at home! Also, I see it as more of a natural comfort. Sometimes LO will suck his thumb for only a moment, then move on.
Also, I think it's just so damn cute when a baby sucks it's thumb!

Of course, there are downsides to sucking thumbs as well, but I'll pass that bridge when I get to it!

 

[Missy86]

charlie's just started sucking his muslin too!

Ot but seriously muslins my best baby buy

 

[fairy1984]

I can see why a dummy is better orthodontically but surely using one becuase you can take it away at a later date which you cant do for a thumb doesnt mean they wont suck go to sucking thier thumb if the dummy is taken?

also, the number of people that actually carry on sucking a thumb past the age where it causes issues as a percentage overall is tiny. in my opinion not worth putting a dummy in its place for. yes lots of people can say "oh I know someone who had to have braces because of thumb sucking" but I bet you know far more people that didnt suck a thumb or have any issue relating to it

 

[Gingerspice]

I still suck my thumb in my late 20's. Although I did initially have some teeth trouble when they started to come through they righted themselves without me stopping sucking my thumb so no braces needed.
In some ways I can see the benefit of thumb sucking over dummys and vice versa. I used to have a dummy which got taken away at 3, then I just sucked my thumb instead.
My parents were forever telling me to stop sucking my thumb, and I used to have to say everything twice as first time I would have had my thumb wedged in my mouth!

 

[venusrockstar]

I would prefer if Bella used a dummy instead of her thumb. She took the dummy for a long time and then once she found her thumb she hasn't gone back. Now she spits the dummy out and puts her thumb in instead. As long as she is comforted, that's all that matters...I just don't want her teeth to get messed up from sucking her thumb.