my baby sucks on my thumb to get asleep!

[macochuisa]

Hi, I'm a mother of 7 weeks old boy and struggling with putting him in sleep.

Recently i discovered, though that he falls asleep very easily when sucking on my thumb. He would spit off a dummy which i tried before. He feels so much comfortable with doing so that he's not as much happy to suck on his own finger as he used to.

I'm quite scared to continue with it as we would build up on a bad habit and he would not be willing to comfort himself when wake up during a night or a day nap. And also not very sure when he would wean off the habit.

I tried many approaches but he's way heavy to daily walk around carrying him for an hour or so to just make him asleep.

Is there anyone ever experiencing the same problem or ever heard of a same troublesome parent? Or simply anyone willing to give me an advice?

Please, someone help me. I have no idea how to cope with it.

PS: should i insist on putting him into dummy habit? Would it not be the same problem as the thumb's (inability to fall asleep anyhow else)? Oh well, except for when put in carrier.

[titabeth]

For 9 months he's been having a 'cuddle' inside his mum. He's only 7 weeks old. Try not to worry about it.

How long is it before you remove your thumb when getting him off to sleep?

There are sleep cycles even in very young babies. I used to stay with my baby, with my hands still touching her head gently. If I moved as soon as she nodded off she would wake up again. If I waited until I could see rapid eye movement, under her closed eyelids, usually took about 5-10 minutes, I could move away no problem.

My DD wouldn't take a dummy, but she used to stroke my fingernail while feeding. I'm sure he'll move onto a comfort blanket, or soft toy when he's older, especially if you constantly pair your thumb with a soft toy/comfort blanket suitable for his age.

[Helenc19]

Hi, my ds was a finger sucker, he wouldnt take a dummy, he is breastfed but when a newborn wouldnt feed to sleep and wouldn't go to sleep in the carrier or pushchair without sucking either.
Sucking is a natural way for them to comfort themselves and fall asleep and some babies just need to do it more than others, I also worried about letting him do it though as it was very restrictive for me.
I was planning on weaning him off it before he was 6months but he was ill in hospital just before so it stopped then and once home he became better at settling in his cot but also started feeding to sleep.
My advice would be to try to wean him off finding other ways to help him sleep, once he gets teeth you wont want to do it, using a dummy would be the easies option if you can get him to take one, I dont think its a bad habbit as long as he only has it for sleep and you remove it once he is asleep which can help to stop him waking if it falls out.
have you tried swaddling, white noise, rocking in a dark room, doing this can take time for him to fall asleep even upto 20 minutes so dont give up to easily and give him your thumb, you would need to do it consistantly for a week or 2 to get him used to it. A short naptime routine and a bedtime rutine would also be helpful.
if you are finding it hard walking him in the carrier to sleep what carrier do you have? a more comfortable one might helpand does he sleep in the pra or carseat?

[Enjoyingmycoffee1981]

Yes, you will likely have to 'deal' with this a bit later on. Not going to lie to you. You are giving your baby incredible comfort by doing this, and that is quite addictive! So your choice whether you're up for that now or later on. Cold turkey likely to be best,and it would pass in a couple of days.

The main reason I posted is to say I find your situation absolutely adorable! Not heard of it before and it's so sweet!