Should I encourage my thumb-sucking 21mth old to suck a dummy instead?

[jivegirl]

Hello,

My DD is 21 months old. We used a dummy with her until about 6 months old when we started a routine and I got fed up of constantly retrieving the dummy for her at night - so she found her thumb instead.

Since then she has been a fantastic sleeper - 7 - 7 like clockwork, no problems at all.

She really does enjoy her thumb though! Used to be just when she was sleepy, now it goes in when she's in the car, is bored, if she's cautious meeting new people etc.

I got her a pack of dummies a few months ago, and she really took to them. I actually ended up hiding them from her as we decided we'd prefer her to suck her thumb (she would go mad if she saw the dummy, and we thought if we continued we'd end up with 2 bad habits to cure!) but now as time goes on I'm not so sure.

I know all the arguments for and against - but if you were in my situation, would you start to encourage dummy use now, or stick with the thumb? I'm so used to seeing her with thumb in now, dummy looks really odd and I hate it!

Thanks

Claire

I'd stick with the thumb. As you say, at least you know it is always available. Also, it is a lot more socially acceptable to see a youngster sucking a thumb than a dummy, round here anyway.

TBH I think you will struggle to get her off the thumb properly. When she loses dummy in the night she will find her humb again.

My DD3 is 24m, and I know I couldn't get her to stop if I wanted to. I can't even get her to suck her right thumb (she exclusively sucks her left).

OTOH I can't get my 7yos to stop sucking thumb...at least the dummy can be sent to the fairies, Santa or whatever.

My eldest was an avid dummy addict, she binned them just before she turned 5 (she was sad about it though)

The next 2 are thumb suckers and I can't see them ever giving up

The yongest sucks her fingers (has done since birth) but will also have a dummy. I encourage her to have a dummy because I believe it does less damage to the teeth and it may help her give up her fingers and then eventually the dummy.