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Parenting

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Original poster

Thump sucking vs dummy

14 replies

Meepmoop · 09/09/2017 18:55

Hello,

My DS looks like he is going to be a thumb sucker, he is trying to put his hands in his mouth and today looked like he was trying to put his thumb in.

I'm wondering if he does start sucking his thumb is it better to introduce a dummy or leave him sucking his thumb?

Just wondering on your opinions on this

Thank you

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Silverthorn · 09/09/2017 18:59

You can take a dummy away. More difficult with a thumb. How old is he?

Original poster

Meepmoop · 09/09/2017 19:03

That was my thinking. He's only 7weeks old so It might be a bit early to tell

OP posts:

OnlyHereForTheFeminists · 09/09/2017 19:18

I'm pretty sure they all suck their hands at that age. Mine didn't have dummies and they don't suck their thumbs now.

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RandomMess · 09/09/2017 19:25

I wouldn't rush to introduce one yet but if needs be yes a dummy over a thumb every time.

Stopping thumb sucking is horrible!!!

SayNoToCarrots · 09/09/2017 19:30

I sucked my thumb til secondary school. Nothing my mum did stopped me. She couldn't exactly cut off my thumb.

I had a massive overbite that had to be corrected with braces.

user1493413286 · 09/09/2017 21:45

I'm wondering the exact same thing and have tried introducing a dummy which my DD will take but I notice she often knocks it out and goes back to sucking her fists and fingers.

Lenl · 09/09/2017 21:49

I asked this question recently. By about 10 weeks DS2 was properly sucking his thumb (index finger hooked over nose and everything), it was almost unbearably cute but the consensus on here was dummies over thumbs. I agreed so introduced one and it's bloody great. Helps him sleep and calm down when he has to wait for my attention if I'm changing DS1.

My first son had a dummy that we took away cold turkey at 22ish months. The first day was awful, the second was a bit shit and by day three he didnt even ask for it again. Hoping this one will be the same.

Starlight2345 · 09/09/2017 21:59

Yes Dummy every time.. Mine is 10 now but do look up connection with cot death and I am sure they were recommended for that reason.

I think if we called them Soothers like the US people may see them a bit differently

teaandakitkat · 09/09/2017 22:07

I vote for thumb. But I'd rather take the easy option now and worry about the difficult stuff later.

It's true that you can't remove a thumb when they are older and you want them to stop.

But you don't have to get up in the night to find a lost thumb, or listen to screaming in the car because it's fallen on the floor, or you've forgotten to stick one in your handbag and now they need a sleep in the pushchair.

Mine have all been thumb suckers and have all mostly given up by age 5 so it's not been a major problem for us.

Silly35 · 09/09/2017 22:07

I think dummy is better as thumb can cause dental issues (front teeth sticking out)

teaandakitkat · 09/09/2017 22:14

I think dummy is better as thumb can cause dental issues (front teeth sticking out)

Our dentist said that dental problems are so common now for so many reasons (injury, overcrowding, jaw shape) so many teenagers have braces, it's not worth worrying about thumb sucking unless it is really really non-stop.

Of my 3 thumb suckers, one has 2 weird extra teeth growing through the roof of his mouth and will need surgery. One (the worst thumb sucker) has perfect teeth. One fell and bashed his baby tooth when he was only 2 and there's a good chance it has damaged his adult tooth underneath so he'll need treatment anyway.

Don't stress about it, you can't predict the future. Maybe your baby will hate a dummy anyway, maybe they won't feel the need to suck anything at all in a few weeks time.

tootsieglitterballs · 09/09/2017 22:20

I know a woman in her 20s who is still a thumb sucker... dummy all the way for me.
Dummy went when DS was 2yr2months and we haven't looked back.

AnneOfCleavage · 09/09/2017 22:21

A dummy is no better for teeth than a thumb so discount that straightaway as a reason. My DD chose her thumb over a dummy (at 6 weeks) and was such a contented child. She never lost her thumb and slept through from very early age as she could self soothe.

At age 5 we encouraged her to stop by wrapping it up in a bandage and bribing with a present she really wanted. She wanted to stop more importantly as the dentist had said she needed to as her teeth had the tell tale top curve but has totally gone now as she stopped at a good time while her teeth still had growing time and movement. Yes it was hard that first night but it so got easier quite quickly.

Hotpinkangel19 · 09/09/2017 22:37

Dummy. I'm 33 and still suck my thumb 😔

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