Finger Sucking!!!!

Just wanted to add my vote - my 11 mo. old sucks/chews on her fingers when she's teething, but that's about it. She sucked on her thumb for maybe 2-3 weeks when she was 4 mos. old, but it never really took. Do what you like, but I'd rather she chew on her fingers than on a paci that can be easily addicting as well, is made of plastic, and gets dropped on the floor and stuck back in at will. And you KNOW it happens... ;0)

I'm worried about the same thing b/c my almost 5 year old niece still sucks her thumb. I will keep checking the responses to your post and see if anyone has any advice.

My daughter started sucking her thumb when she was three months old which was great b/c that really helped her stay asleep at night. I had tried getting her to take to a pacifier starting when she was 4-6 weeks old b/c I read that it might help to decrease SIDS. Well I kept trying and tyring but she never took to it. She is 7 1/2 months old and still sucks her thumb when she is bored, overstimulated, or sleepy.

We have several pacifiers around the house and she'll play with them--mostly biting/chewing on them b/c she's teething now. But she still doesn't suck on them except for a few seconds when she's playing with it.

You could try to give them to your baby to play with and she'll figure out how to suck on it eventually. I just don't know if she'll think it's better than her fingers...

Hi K.,

I had an ultrasound picture with my daughter sucking her two middle fingers before she was even born! I tried all sorts of things to try to make her give up sucking the fingers, but nothing seemed to work. Our dentist told me that the finger sucking would not affect her teeth, so that was a good thing. She sucked them less as she grew older, but continued to suck them when tired or asleep until she was about eight years old. Finally, when she was good and ready, she stopped on her own. She is now a grown woman, with beautiful teeth, so I think the finger sucking had no lasting ill effects. Good luck.

I was hoping you would have some resposes!! The only thing I can say is my youngest started sucking his fingers and now he is turning 2 next week and still does it. He usually sucks his fingers when he's tired now, but I'm not sure how to break him of the habit. You can try different pacis. I think I tried every one out there, but I couldn't find one he would take. Hope you get some helpful responses.

Hi K.,
Two of my children were much like your daughter. They prefered their own hands to a pacifier. I encouraged them to use one, but they insisted otherwise. Today at 3 and 6, they are not finger suckers (and they stopped at about 8 mos) and have had no problems with teeth, etc. So, I say what's the harm??
D.

I don't really have an answer because my 3 and half year old has the same problem! she never used a pacifier and she still sucks her thumb. When my parents were living with us for about 6 months, they almost broke her habit (i still don't know how they did it while I can't: all they did was keep telling her not to and she listened!)But after they left, she started the daycare and so did her "thumb sucking" habit. I was really upset when i found out the the teacher actually encouraged her to suck her thumb so that she feel comfortable and can take her nap! But that to be said, the damage is done. Until today, we still haven't quite figure it out how to stop that. So if anybody has a good advice, I'm all for it!

my almost 2 yr old still sucks her index and middle fingers...all we do is keep telling her to stop sucking her fingers and she stops for a few minutes and goes right back at it...but she mostly does it when she starts to get sleepy...so i think its all on how u feel about it. i dont really mind...because that way i know when to lay her down for her nap haha...well if u find a answer to ur question to help stop the finger sucking let all us other moms know...take care.

This is not going to help you a bit but I am going to tell you to break it as soon as you can. My daughter is 4 and still sucks on her index finger. I have tried to break her with little success. So if you get any advice and it works, please pass it along to me. Good Luck!!