Background: DS (19m) is devoted to his thumb, has been since early on. Nursed to 13 months, thumb was occasional, generally just naps/bedtime. Since weaning, thumb use has increased significantly and is now throughout the day. Has never had a pacifier of any type, or a bottle, went right from nursing to cup - not sure if that is relevant or affects need for comfort sucking but thought worth mentioning.
I have absolutely no problem with his sucking his thumb, can see that it is his comfort mechanism, and would feel very trying to take it away from him at this point.
BUT, am being told by everyone that I should "break the habit" and warned that it will affect his teeth/jaw positioning. I have also been told that it could be contributing to his speech delay, which makes me as this comes from someone who has no idea the details of his delay, which is very much not related to thumb sucking!
Anyway I know the ladies of MN will give me the truth. Should I be trying (and if so how?) to discourage DS thumb sucking? Is there real harm in it and if so how does one stop it? If there is no harm, what is wrong with letting him have his comfort mechanism? Am open to any advice/comment, I really am geniunely not understanding why people (and many of them strangers ie. coming up to me in the grocery store!) are so adamant that this is bad?