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Parenting

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Original poster

Baby sucking thumb - time to introduce a dummy?

32 replies

newmum234 · 19/07/2020 22:45

My baby is 12 weeks old now and has been sucking his hands a lot for the last few weeks. Tonight he’s fallen asleep with his thumb in his mouth! Is it best to introduce a dummy now before sucking his thumb becomes a habit, or is the thumb sucking something that will pass?

OP posts:

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Smoothprocrastinator · 20/07/2020 08:39

Alternatively to other posters, my thumb sucking (until I was about 11-12) hasn’t damaged my jaw or teeth (or thumb) at all!

I wish my mum had given me a dummy though as at 10 onwards I was really embarrassed about thumb sucking but it was automatic!

Smoothprocrastinator · 20/07/2020 08:41

Maybe I would have had a horrendous underbite without my thumb sucking

Staplemaple · 20/07/2020 08:49

They don't need it, it's just a way to shut them up and considering being vocal is there only way of communicating it's a bit mean to take that away I feel

Don't be ridiculous. When they are learning to babble it is an issue during the day, but to soothe to sleep or whatever, they will still cry if they want to.

OP it's up to you, I would see how the thumb sucking goes, but dummies are fine if it gives them some comfort. On DS' first birthday we stopped letting him have it during the day, and then at 18 months removed it at night and it was fine, a few savage days but worth it for the benefits of the time he used it when small. If that makes me a bad parent then so be it!

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Carpetdweller · 20/07/2020 10:11

@newmum234

Thanks. As much as I’m not keen on dummies, I’m also genuinely worried that I’m damaging my baby psychologically by depriving him of one when he’s keen to suck. Is that something I need to be concerned about? I just want him to be as happy and secure as possible!

You won't damage him psychologically by not giving him a dummy. He doesn't even know what dummies are or that they exist. The human race has done fine without them for many years!

It's natural for babies to suck their thumbs and hands. A thumb is always there, dummies get lost and you might have to get up in the night to give it back to him

happymummy12345 · 20/07/2020 10:16

No I hate dummies.
I never had one and no child of mine would ever have one either. My son stopped sucking he thumb on his own before he was 1.

HelloRose · 20/07/2020 14:06

I second what @Letsallscreamatthesistene said. You've had every possible angle on this debate over multiple threads.
Time to make a decision.

mindutopia · 20/07/2020 17:34

If he wants to suck his thumb, he will. No need to stress about depriving him of something. Mostly, he'll just want you, so pick him up, lots of cuddles and attention.

My 2nd one started to suck his thumb around that age. It lasted a couple months and then stopped. He's never sucked it again or had a dummy and didn't need either. He was a very content baby. I'd just leave it and carry on as you are. He's obviously doing just fine.

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