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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

Starting thumb-sucking at 2.5?!?!

11 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 13/06/2007 16:09

DS2 will be 3 in September. Over the last month or so, while we've been struggling with getting DS1 to stop thumb sucking, DS2 has decided that sucking his thumb is funny. He puts his thumb in his mouth and then peers at me, waiting for me to react. Could he end up actually sucking his thumb from this? Should I just ignore him? He's never been a 'sucky' baby, so I don't think he could be a real thumb sucker, but still ...

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Othersideofthechannel · 13/06/2007 19:05

Just ignore him. He sees that it is an attention grabber for DS1 and, as you said, wants to see if you'll react.

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NotQuiteCockney · 14/06/2007 14:14

I am finding this very hard to ignore. Getting DS1 to stop sucking his thumb in the daytime is hell, and the thought that I'll have to do this again has me thoroughly .

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Halster · 14/06/2007 14:18

My daughter has just started to suck her thumb at 3.5! Never done it before. She even sucks it throughout the night. Grrr.

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Othersideofthechannel · 14/06/2007 14:36

Yes, it's easier to dispense the 'ignore it' advice than to follow it! Fortunately we don't have a thumb problem yet. DS (4) only sucks his when tired or sulking. But I do have to try hard to ignore other things.

What about distraction with DS2? Eg you see him thumb sucking to wind you up so you find him something to do which requires both hands.

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NotQuiteCockney · 14/06/2007 18:04

Yeah, DS1 mostly does it when bored or tired or stressed. We've had some luck with just getting him to wear a plaster in the day, but it is most tiresome, for all of us.

He does seem to be actually sucking on it properly . I dunno, I will wait it out some, and try distraction.

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Othersideofthechannel · 15/06/2007 11:15

How old is your DS1?

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NotQuiteCockney · 15/06/2007 16:32

He'll be six in September.

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Othersideofthechannel · 15/06/2007 17:02

Does he do it alot?
I'm just wondering when it becomes a problem for parents.
DS (4) probably sucks his thumb for in total about half an hour a day, maybe a bit more on a bad hair day (and I'm sure lots at night but I can't see that!). I'm fine with that and think I will be when he is 6.

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goingfor3 · 15/06/2007 17:04

DD started doing this when she started pre school. She puts her thumb in her mouth when she is upset as thats what she sees the other children doing. She rarely does it probably because we pay no attention to it.

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harrisey · 15/06/2007 17:35

My dd1 started to suck hers at 23 mo, just before ds was born.

She is now 7 and we are at the 'paint the horrid stuf on it' stage as dentist says we are looking at braces for her soon if she doesnt stop. But she didnt do it as a baby.

Ds never has

Dd2 was swwn sucking on her 24 week scan. Dont know how she will ever stop.

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NotQuiteCockney · 15/06/2007 18:04

He does it a lot.

We have a problem with it during the day (don't care about night yet) because a) it's a problem at school b) it's gross, his hand is always wet, and his thumb was looking malformed tbh and c) he sucks his thumb and kinda 'zones out', and isn't really paying attention at all.

He still has his baby teeth, and they seem pretty straight (god knows how, both DH and I have had loads of orthodonty ... maybe Lamarck had a point? )