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Original poster

16 week old BabyG has started sucking his fingers - just gone to sleep with two finges in his blardy mouth. How cna I break this habit?

50 replies

MamaG · 27/02/2009 14:30

Whislt on the one hand its good because he wasn't being held, rocked, fed or moved (pram/car) to get to sleep, I don't wnat him to get into the habit of sucking his fingers.

He has refused a dummy on the few occasions I've half heartedly attempted one and I was secretly glad

Argh he's going to turn into a bloody thumb sucker isn't he, WHAT CAN I DO?!

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notnowbernard · 27/02/2009 14:32

Not sure you can do anything, tbh

Mine were avid dummy-suckers so didn't get to finger/thumb sucking

Think of it as effective 'self-soothing' - might make you feel better?!

Disenchanted3 · 27/02/2009 14:33

Swaddle him?

DD does this at 9 weeks. I don't see the problem?

Original poster
MamaG · 27/02/2009 14:34

Yeah my older two loved their dummies! At least I could remove them at some point.

OP posts:
FAQinglovely · 27/02/2009 14:34

DS2 sucked 2 fingers from very tiny too. Never turned into a thumb sucker. He's 5 now and I've done nothing to try to stop him and he hardly does it at all now - except sometimes when he's really really tired and about to fall asleep.

Original poster
MamaG · 27/02/2009 14:34

Dis, its becuase I don't wnat hm to be a toddler wandering around with his thumb/fingers in his mouth! He doesn't like being swaddled at all.

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eandh · 27/02/2009 14:34

chop his fingers off

Not sure you can do anything, friends little boy was sucking his fingers in his 4d scan and at 5.5 still sucks them, however, much they bribe/sticker chart etc as soon as he is tired he starts!

BecauseImWorthIt · 27/02/2009 14:35

DS1 loved his dummy. When removed, successfully, at around 5 1/2 months, he resorted to his thumb. He still sucks his thumb.

He is 17 tomorrow ....

Original poster
MamaG · 27/02/2009 14:35

oh really faq? so he didn't wander around sucking htem in public?! I always limited dummy time to bed with older dc (God I'm anal aren't I)

OP posts:
Flightattendant27 · 27/02/2009 14:35

Oh leave him be

They all need something. Who says he'll still want to at 3?

Original poster
MamaG · 27/02/2009 14:35

at 17 tomorrow!

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Disenchanted3 · 27/02/2009 14:36

Mitts?

Original poster
MamaG · 27/02/2009 14:36

Waaaaaaaah don't do a sad face at me pleeeease!

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FAQinglovely · 27/02/2009 14:36

he did occasionaly do it in public, but not very often, again only when he was particularly tired - or if he'd just hurt himself.

I never tried to stop it, or make an issue of it - figured that was kind of like trying to tell a smoker to stop smoking - he'd only do it more

idobelieveinfairies · 27/02/2009 14:36

Aww brings back memories....

helsbels4 · 27/02/2009 14:37

Even though he wouldn't take a dummy before, do you think he might take to one now that he seems to settle with his fingers? Might be worth a try and as you say, at least you can take them away at some point. I always think that babies look really cute sucking their thumbs or fingers but not quite so cute when they're in their thirties like my brother

Nabster · 27/02/2009 14:38

Nothing.

Leave him he will be fine and so much easier than faffing about with dummies and then weaning him off.

Why would you want to take his new toy off him?

My eldest sucked his thumb and I sucked mine until I was 23 and no real harm done.

theyoungvisiter · 27/02/2009 14:38

he might be teething - if not, DS1 sucked his fingers for a while when he was small and then just stopped. He never had a dummy.

Flightattendant27 · 27/02/2009 14:39

Aw sorry

Seriously there are worse things. Don't sweat it.

ProfYaffle · 27/02/2009 14:39

My dd1 sucked her fingers like that but stopped of her own accord once her teeth started coming in.

I don't think there's anything to worry about at this stage.

ProfYaffle · 27/02/2009 14:40

She was a dummy refusnik too.

VoodooTheOriginal · 27/02/2009 14:44

the fingers are good!!! what is the prob?

If you screw with them you will be on a road to nowhere...

Original poster
MamaG · 27/02/2009 14:48

Gah
I'll leave him alone then

OP posts:
Original poster
MamaG · 27/02/2009 14:56

he does look sweet though

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Disenchanted3 · 27/02/2009 14:58

Awwwww hes so sweet.

DD looks adorablw when she does this

Lio · 27/02/2009 14:58

Gorgeous! I used to suck my fingers and I am fine now