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Parenting

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Original poster

4month old baby still hasnt found his thumb

18 replies

gotthecor · 27/10/2022 23:17

He wonr take a dummy we tried. He sucks the back of his thumb but the thumb is under the rest of his fingers instead of in his mouth.

Its so annoying as i know it would soothe him. Will he ever find it of he hasnt at 4months?!

Ive tried helping but he sucks it then returns it to the other position

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Coffeeandcrocs · 27/10/2022 23:23

None of my 3 have ever sucked their thumbs. 2 were dummy refusers too.

Wondershoe · 27/10/2022 23:23

Most people try and stop their children sucking their thumbs as it’s not good for their emergent teeth

cavily1806 · 27/10/2022 23:26

If he finds his thumb you'll have yonks of the dentist telling you to stop, as if it's that easy. I'd say don't encourage to start with....

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LittleBearPad · 27/10/2022 23:28

Why would you want him to suck his thumb? If he’s happy leave him be.

Thesearmsofmine · 27/10/2022 23:28

Don’t encourage thumb sucking. He’s happy with what’s he’s doing.

Waterfallgirl · 27/10/2022 23:29

Why does he need to?

As above it’s not good for growing teeth.

Guessie · 27/10/2022 23:30

Are kids meant to suck their thumb? I'm so glad mine doesn't and didn't have a dummy. I sucked my thumb for years and needed braces because of it. My sister had dummies and weaning her off them was a fecking nightmare

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 27/10/2022 23:34

Most babies will put their hands in their mouths. Weird to want a thumb sucker or use a dummy. Hygiene, dummies always fall out and then you have a waiting child at 3am.
There are other options to soothe a child to sleep and to teach them to self soothe.

Original poster

gotthecor · 28/10/2022 04:15

That is very true I didn't think about that. My eldest had a dummy & it was quite straightforward getting him to give it up. How on earth do you give up something attached to you?!

Maybe i will just let him be

Thanks all

OP posts:

eurochick · 28/10/2022 05:24

Yep - don't encourage it! If a baby doesn't want a dummy or thumb that's great!

deadgreg · 28/10/2022 06:10

Weird - why encourage thumb sucking?

Goldbar · 28/10/2022 06:27

I'd prefer a dummy over thumb-sucking. When my DC gave up their dummy at the age recommended by the dentist, that was that. I wouldn't have a clue how to wean them off thumb-sucking 😬. If your DC doesn't need either, it's probably a good thing and they will work out how to soothe themselves without (even if it's annoying in the meantime).

liveforsummer · 28/10/2022 07:21

If he doesn't settle with a dummy it's unlikely the thumb will help either. I don't know many babies who have sucked their thumbs they aren't really big enough to be satisfying - look at the size difference between a newborns thumb and a dummy teat,but those who have have done it well in to childhood and it's become problematic. My sister not only damaged her teeth but her thumb too. It's a smaller size compared to all her other fingers/other thumb

RedHerring24 · 28/10/2022 10:35

My DD was a dummy refuser but did find her thumb at about 4 months. Spent ages sucking the back of her fist and making it sore.
She will self settle by sucking her thumb briefly then once asleep thumb out. She doesnt sit all day sucking it.
I know there will be a battle to get her to stop and ill cross that bridge as and when, but for now, if she can settle herself at 3am without milk then fab.

lifeinthehills · 28/10/2022 10:43

None of mine ever sucked thumbs or took a dummy. He'll be fine.

Loserluck · 28/10/2022 14:30

Mine sucked her thumb. I had to paint that horrific tasting nail varnish on and then she sucked it in her sleep and woke up retching and I felt horrific. To be fair from that day on she never sucked it again so it did work!

jelllycats · 28/10/2022 19:24

DS never had a dummy and has also never sucked his thumb which I'm so glad about, why would you want to encourage this?

DianaSun · 24/12/2022 13:36

some Babies keep their thumbs inside because of body tension like my baby. He’s 3m and 21 days old and is very good with his hands but no thumb sucking- he has tongue tie and body tension because of it and thumbs are often inside other fingers.

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