Fingers always in her mouth

[spikey54]

Our dd is 12 months and has sucked her middle and ring finger with her palm facing outwards since very early on. She sucks them a lot,also quite forcefully, frequently during the day as well as at bedtime and when she wakes in the night. Apparently this type of finger sucking can lead to damage with palatal development and all sorts of horrific things after some digging about on the net. It seems a bit mean to try avoidance methods on her so young - has anyone had experience with this? Half wondering if we should try to swap her over to a dummy after reading the dummy/thumb thread but I doubt she'd have it. Grateful for any ideas.

Not sure how to help but dont like people not getting replies!!!
I had a friends who's daughter did this all the time and she has grown into a lovely teenage girl who speaks beautifully!
Speak to your dentist next time you go. He maybe able to tell you some facts

Gosh I have just tried doing that (sucking fingers backwards) must be double jointed! I've had children do it the other way round, but like you say there is pressure to the palet palm facing outwards!

Sorry that wasn't helpful, erm!

12 months old, erm! a little older and you could have shown her pretty nail varnish to look at, my 2.10 dd loves it and it stopped her putting fingers in mouth, but your dd is still too young to understand!

Perhaps someone will read this thread that has had a child that sucks fingers backwards that can help you.

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies. After an afternoon of slurping the fingers we did try a dab of malt vinegar (bad mummy) tonight just to see but she just pulled a face and carried on! Wondering if stop and grow might be worth a try when she's possibly a bit older but feel awful about even considering this as she really soothes herself with it.

spikey - my ds comfort is dh 'ear' yuk I know, we have just put dts in own bedrooms (together) its a nightmare without dh's comfort 'ear' up 10 times in night, aaaaaaaaaah! why can't he twiddle his own ear! twin2 dd has nothing!

'slurping the fingers' ah bless!

sleepysooz - dd does the ear twiddly thing with her free hand! Mind you it's her own ear so not so bad. Reckon it's cos when she was teeny she used to fall asleep all the time breastfeeding & my midwife suggested rubbing her earlobe to keep her awake. Your poor dh, can't you persuade ds to twiddle dd's ear instead!

hey dont worry i am 36 and still suck my fingers.

Agree with checking with your dentist, although make sure you are taking her to a pediatric dentist not a general one. If/when intervention is needed there are different types of dental appliances that can do the job.