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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

Thumbsucking in 8-month-old

12 replies

ThisIsBloodyHardWork · 31/03/2009 08:17

My DS has always been a very sucky baby. He had a dummy to help him sleep til he was 6 months, then we took it away. He coped v well with this initially, and sleeps fine.

However, recently he has taken to sucking his thumb - LOADS. He sucks it to help him sleep, when he's upset, etc - which wouldn't bother me too much, but he also sucks it just anyway. I'm not sure what I can do about this, reintroducing the dummy clearly wouldn't help as he would then just have two things to suck rather than one - but looking for reassurance and/or ideas about how to limit it, maybe?

Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SoupDreggon · 31/03/2009 08:22

From experience it's virtually impossible.

Innumerable people will come and tell you not to be cruel and leave him be if he gets comfort from it. However, whilst now is too early, I would work on discouraging it. DS1 (10) is 2.5 years into orthodontic treatment to correct damage to his teeth and jaws due to thumbsucking. Tomorrow he is having some baby teeth out to assist in this.

I wish I'd stopped him sucking his thumb.

SobranieCocktail · 31/03/2009 08:25

From what age would you try discouraging it Soupy? DS is 2.7 and is a devoted thumb sucker. He's already got an open bite . There's no way I could talk him out of it atm though.

Original poster

ThisIsBloodyHardWork · 31/03/2009 08:29

SoupDreggon, how would you have gone about stopping him if you'd known what you know now? I just don't get why he would suddenly start - unless it's genetic. Both his father and I sucked our thumbs as children (no huge dental problems). Is there absolutely nothing to be done?

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Original poster

ThisIsBloodyHardWork · 31/03/2009 08:48

So no one has a "my DD/S sucks his/her thumb and it's totally fine" or "do this/that and he'll stop" type story? Are we just screwed? Sigh.

OP posts:

SoupDreggon · 31/03/2009 09:03

Oh, I don't know - it's a nightmare TBH. DD started sucking hers 7 months ago, aged 2.6 Bah! I'm trying to stop her as I can see damage but I'm going to have to step up the work I think - reminding her isn't working.

I would say that if you can see damage, it's definitely time to stop. How to stop them is another matter and sadly I don't have the answer.

Plenty of people have a "my child was Ok" story. However, I also sucked my thumb as a child and my teeth were fine. DS1's orthodontist looked at the shape of my face and could tell I'd been a thumbsucker. It affects more than just teeth because the jaws are always apart so they grow differently and the whoe face is affected. Certainly DS1's teeth are now wonderful but in addition, his face has changed shape to be squarer - it's subtle but if you compare the photos it's there. he will look fabulous when the treatment is over.

SoupDreggon · 31/03/2009 09:05

DS1 only stopped sucking his thumb when the brace he has to wear changed to one which makes him keep his mouth closed. Even then, it was only when his open bite closed sufficiently to prevent him slotting it in that he actually stopped. And, even now when I go to kiss him good night, his thumb is often up by his mouth as if it's fallen out (bless him)

WowOoo · 31/03/2009 09:11

DS started sucking his thumb and we used to pull it out of his mouth and distract him with something else.

Was told this was cruel. But, he stopped after a month ish

I used to keep an array of chewable, suckable toys and things and give these as soon as I took the thumb away. He never seemed that upset, unless i had nothing else to offer.

Goodluck.

Original poster

ThisIsBloodyHardWork · 31/03/2009 09:48

Thanks for replies! I guess I can try the distraction stuff. I do pull it out occasionally, and he isn't bothered really. don't do it if he is sucking it to soothe himself or to go to sleep.

Gosh, SD, the orthodonitc stuff sounds pretty brutal (but effective am sure!)

My DS is teething at the mo - could the constant sucking be something to do with that and might die down when he has a tooth or am i kidding myself?

OP posts:

Umlellala · 31/03/2009 10:03

hey, i wish my ds would suck his thumb but doesn't (dd loves her dummy - still). i reckon it could be connected to teething - my ds is a boob monster at the moment.

btw i sucked my thumb as a little girl. i don't anymore

WowOoo · 31/03/2009 10:06

My dh sucked his thumb until a dentist showed him a picture of what his teeth could look like (think it was a grossly exagerrated buck toothed boy).

His teeth are fine and he continued until he was about 6 I think...

SobranieCocktail · 31/03/2009 10:07

WowOoo - lol, like that Simpson's episode?

WowOoo · 31/03/2009 10:16

Haven't seen that one. All I know was that it terrified him!

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