Thumb Sucking

[venusrockstar]

Over the past couple days my hubby and I noticed our daughter is starting to suck her thumb. She is 8 weeks old today.

Is there anything we can do to prevent this? My hubby works with dental claims and has seen all the horror stories and pictures of kids with messed up teeth from thumb sucking..

We use a pacifier, but she sometimes spits it out and uses her thumb instead.

Help!

 

[venusrockstar]

Anyone?

 

[JenStar1976]

I don't think there's anything you can do bar tying her hands round her back! Alex sucks his thumb and the only thing I'm concerned about is the skin on his thumb as it gets really sore. Thumb sucking isn't something to worry about with babies/small children: if your child is still doing it when their permanent teeth come through, that's when you need to consider prevention. x

 

[wishingonastar]

my daughter has sucked her thumb since 9 weeks and she's 13 months now...i personally think its fantastic for a comforter now, but when she's about 2 i will be working on stopping it as she'll be old enough to understand...until then it provides her with comfort and security and who am i do deprive her...she has 11 teeth through now and not one is wonky

she only sucks her thumb when very tired or when upset...other than that she's too busy to think of it

 

[A3my]

My eldest sucked her thumb and still does at 10 but my middle daughter just kind of stopped when she was about 5 months.

My son has just started sucking his and I have to admit I love that he can self settle.

Try not to worry, remember your husband has only experienced worst case scenarios

 

[GingerNut]

I sucked mine and clearly remember deciding when I didn't want to anymore. Nothing could have persuaded me to stop till then! It didn't affect my teeth at all : )

DD is trying to figure out how to at the moment and I'm hoping she gets the hang of it soon, I still remember the feeling of security it gave me.