MOMania

By Jesse's Girl

July 25, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this

Our first daughter would never have anything to do with a pacifier or her thumb. I’ve often wondered if this has something to do with being first born. Both Mr Jesse and I are the oldest and we never took the pacifier or our thumbs. Hmm? Our middle child…another girl…LOVED her paci. We used to put 10 in her baby bed just so she could grab one as she shot the other out of her mouth. That girl could launch a paci like a S.A.M.! Getting her to give them up was quite the ordeal. The Boy liked his paci…but only until he was old enough to develope an attachment to his dad’s baby blanket. This thing was old when Mr Jesse was a baby…its ancient now and I am amazed at how well it has held up thru being loved to death!

My sisters’s new baby is a thumb sucker. Spending time with him makes me very happy indeed that none of our kids sucked their thumbs. Their little hands have a tendency to smell really bad!

By Jennifer

July 25, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

Both of our kids were thumbsuckers. My oldest stopped sucking her thumb at 4 and my 3-yo is still sucking hers to sleep. Their hands have never smelled bad!

I prefer the thumb over a pacifier because my girls could always find their thumb. I never had to keep a stash of pacis around.

By DB

July 25, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

The first liked the pacifier, never sucked a thumb, but it took some time to wean him away from the pacifier. The second one HATED a pacifier, never would have anything to do with one, but she was never really a thumb-sucker, either. Neither one of them ended up standing in a corner sucking their thumb in pre-school. If the baby doesn’t like a pacifier, don’t sweat it.

That thought about the pacifier leading to ear infections doesn’t hold true in our case. Daughter never used a pacifier, was breast-fed, all the “right” things — and still we fought intermittant ear infections for two years.

By Stacey

July 25, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

My son never sucked a thumb or a pacifier. He was a preemie and the nurses actually tried to train him to suck a pacifier because he was on a feeding tube and they wanted him to associate sucking with food (he also never took to nursing). Once he was ready to start feeding by mouth, I tried again to nurse but he still wouldn’t do it. He took the bottle after a few tries so I had to pump and feed him by bottle.

My brother is 32 and he still sucks his thumb in his sleep. I have an 18 year old niece who sucks her thumb when she’s pouting, bored, sleepy, etc. Neither of them have damage to their teeth from it but both of them have flat thumbs.

By Leen

July 25, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

I was a thumb sucker until 3rd grade, and didn’t want my kids to deal with that. All three used the pacifier, and gave them up pretty easily when they started pre-school. My dentist and pediatrician were both proponents of pacifiers, and told me they helped keep the teeth free of plaque by constantly rinsing the mouth with saliva while they slept. I don’t know if there’s any truth to that, but I do know none of my kids ever had a cavity.

By Sue

July 25, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not let your kids suck their thumbs if there is anything you can do! I sucked my thumb until about 4th grade off and on and I had braces for most of middle school and high school as a result. Pacifiers are much better because you can take them away!

By joe

July 25, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

My daughter is 9 and cannot break the habit of sucking her thumb. She says she doesn’t want to stop because she says it soothes her. Now she has buck teeth and a smelly thumb. I wish she used a pacifier because it would have been much easier to ween her off of it.

By deenie

July 25, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this

I have come to realize that you should do what works for you. There are a lot of “experts” in this world, but if they really knew anything, we wouldn’t be asking questions.

By fer

July 25, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

It’s one thing for a baby to use a pacifier or thumb to self soothe at bedtime or naptime. But when the child walks around or plays with it in his/her mouth, some need is not being met.

By Raqi

July 25, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

With both of my kids I did not allow thumb sucking because it causes improper teeth alignment. My youngest took the pacifier for the first few months but soon gave it up.

By Jesse's Girl

July 25, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

Ok…I just read a really cool article about weight loss on CNN.com. Under the health area, click “incredible shrinking couple”. Or something like that. (i don’t copy and paste, sorry!:) Anyway….all this talk of oral fixations, which is what docs label thumb and finger sucking, has me wondering. Do you think there is a correlation between kids with these types of issues that when made to give them up…or socially pressured to do so…will turn to food as their new oral fixation?

My friend has a daughter who is almost 9 and sucks her fingers all of the time. Its always when she is watching tv, reading, and it gets really bad when she is upset. She has recently started to gain weight…more than you would think an 8 year old should. I wonder if she is made to stop, will this turn into a food issue for her?

By Belle

July 25, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

I guess that thumbs or paci could be related to braces later on. I didn’t do either and I still had braces for 3 years.
My daughter has not taken to either so I’m glad about that maybe she won’t have to do the whole braces thing. The only interest she shows in a paci is when her cousin has one. Then of course she wants that one.

By dude

July 25, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

Rest assured dear mother…your child will not go to college sucking thumbs or babbies (pacifiers). My wife and I had 2 on the thumb and 2 on the paci. The thumb babies are now 17 7 14. No problems.

By MS BREE

July 25, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

I’M HAPPY TO SAY THAT MY DAUGHTER, NOW 1, DIDN’T SUCK THE PACIFIER AND DOESN’T SUCK HER FINGER OR THUMBS.

BUT MY BEST FRIEND, NOW 30, STILL SUCKS HER THUMB WHEN SITTING AROUND THE HOUSE. IT’S SOOOO GROSS!

By Charisma

July 25, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

I never sucked my thumb and I didn’t let my kids and I refuse to allow my daughter to let my grandchild suck his. He is 3 and is too old for that. Boys who suck their thumbs have a weak constitution and turn out to be namby pambies.

By DYJ

July 25, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this

Before my 1 yr old was born, my MIL encouraged me to let her be a thumbsucker. I am opposed to thumbsucking because I’ve seen adults sucking their thumbs but I’ve never seen an adult sucking a paci. The LC at Northside introduced the gumdrop pacifier to us. My daughter loves her paci and I know that one day she will have to give it up. I’m more afraid of weening her from the bottle than the paci.

By Nathalia

July 25, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this

Charisma sounds like a great granny. “Namby Pamby”?!

By Joy

July 25, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

My 8 month old sucks her middle two fingers, she started this when she began teething at around 3 months, and also gave up the paci at the same time. I hope that she will let the fingers go when her teeth come in (Her first two are coming and I think she’s sucking them less, but that may be wishful thinking?). Anyway, I would love to curb this behavior now, any ideas?

By Dusty

July 25, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this

My son used a pacifier and didn’t get an ear infection until he was 3 1/2.

It’s much easier to break that pacifier than take away a thumb. I had a friend in middle school that sucked her thumb all the time. It was gross. I wouldn’t doubt it if she was still sucking her thumb.

I can’t stand to see kids that are over the age of 2 or 3 sucking that nasty thumb in public. Gross.

By Jesse's Girl

July 25, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this

Is namby pamby code for gay? If so…man I am rolling on the floor!!And I’m done.

By Reluctant

July 25, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

Both my girls take pacifers. My two year old is the worst about having to have hers. She wants one in the car and at naptime and bedtime. The baby isn’t quite so bad and I really think she would have giving hers up by now if everytime I turned around someone wasn’t shoving one in her mouth when she was newborn. I don’t think either thumb or paci is better than the other, but my mindset was eventually I could take the paci away but I can’t take the thumb away. I haven’t quite figured out how to wean them yet. The pediatrican says one way is to poke holes or cut the top off the paci so they can’t suck on them - I guess they get tired of trying and loose interest

By catlady

July 25, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

Having one pacifier child and two thumb suckers (and being a thumb sucker myself as a child) I opt for the pacifier. It is a hassle to keep up with, etc, but WHEN THE TIME COMES YOU CAN TAKE IT AWAY. You can only do that with a thumb if you are willing to get DFACS on your case. I, too, hate to see half grown toddlers walking around with a pacifier. My daughter got to use hers only when she went to bed. When my daughter was about 2, Santa took her pacifier and gave it to the Baby Jesus (he needed it more). She was very mad at Santa for a while. But Santa brought her big girl presents. There is no taking that ole thumb away—it is just so “handy”. They were never put to bed with a bottle. I also hate to see toddlers walking around with a bottle, and I think when breast-fed babies can ask for a breast, it is high time to wean them. But that is just my opinion.

All my kids had lots of ear infections. They all have good, strong teeth, but all needed braces. The two thumb-suckers were breast-fed, by the way. All three of them were good sleepers and good natured children.

By mom3boys

July 25, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this

My oldest “came” w/ a paci in his mouth…when they brought him to me, there it was: decision made. It was a good one; one day when he was about 20 month old it fell out of his crib. He said, “Where’s issy?” I said I didn’t know. He shrugged and said, “Issy’s all gone.” That was the end of it! The second one took it a little, but mostly just cried to be left alone, and then went to sleep. He’s still an easy going kid at 17! The 3rd one had his paci in his mouth at the beach when he was in the float, it fell out, and drifted away. No one at the beach had that same kind of paci…we had a few long nights, then no more paci. I can’t stand seeing 4 year olds w/ paci or bottles…I will be a MIL from heck if anyone lets future grandkiddies do that…but I like that paci can be thrown out. I think thumbsucking in infants is convenient; but it’s a hard habit to break. Paci is easier. It is disgusting to look around middle school and see thumbsuckers, however!

By Charisma

July 25, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this

Namby pamby little boys don’t like boy things. they dress up and play like little girls and end up being gay. thats what happens when you let a little boy suck on his thumb or have a pacyfier thats what can make them gay, boyd need boy stuff not stuff in their mouths.

By parentof4

July 25, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this

Paci is easier to break. 2 out of 4 used the paci and broke it easily. One child is 9 and he still sucks his thumb. He is not a nimbsey pansey either. All boy, but still a thumb sucker. The other child is 4 and she only sucks her thumb when she is sleepy or scared. Oh Well!!!

By Danny

July 25, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this

I prefer pacifiers the reason you can take a pacifier away when the child is mature enough to not need it any more

By Danny

July 25, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this

sucking things dosent make someone gay being molested or perversion dose that or these days wanting to get on a reality show

By nurse&mother

July 25, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

With my 10yo daughter, my husband and MIL encouraged her to take a paci against my better judgement. By 2 years old she had them double fisted. We had an assortment of colors to coordinate with any outfit. The dentist told us that the paci had to go (she was 2 1/2). He told us she would need a palate expander at some point. He told us that most of the time, paci is not a problem. But it can be in a few children. He also said that a paci was better than the thumb because you cannot get rid of it easily.

That same day, my daughter and I went to toy store and replaced the “poppy” with another toy. She had a few crying spells on the way home. When we got home, I reminded her that she had to throw the poppy away. She was brave as she walked up to the trash can and tossed it away. After she took a few steps, she looked back at the garbage can with a look as if to say” oh no. what have I done”. I clapped my hands and praised her for being such a big girl. She never looked back. We expect to get the palate expander and braces within the next year to year and a half.

When my son was born, my plan was to allow him to use a paci on a limited basis until he was one yo. He really didn’t take to it much and we didn’t force it. He did suck on his thumb in utero and a little after he was born (for a couple of months). The only negative thing to not having/using a paci is babies may have a hard time learning to self soothe.

Another thing to consider is the germs that are on hands and thumbs. Although, I have heard of some research done on kids getting introduced to a lot of germs at an early age. Apparantly, kids may fare better when they are introduced to germs early on in life. It may help to boost their immune system. Who knows! Two years from now, the research may say the opposite!

By cobbmom

July 25, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

My daughter was a big time thumb sucker. I think people who have issues with kids sucking thumbs or using a pacifier, well, have issues in general. I personally don’t care for pacifiers, but whatever works for you and your baby, no one’s become a serial killer or died because they had a paci as a baby. I have better things to worry about.
Oh and it will not make your teeth come in crooked unless they are doing it when they are school aged (i.e. when their permanent teeth are coming in). Nor will a cat suck out your baby’s breath. And if you keep making that face, it will NOT stay that way.

By Charisma

July 25, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this

danny if you let a little boy suck on something then when they are big they are going to want to still suck on something and they will be gay and its a fact. my sister’s boy turned out to be one and she let him suck on his thumbs. i dont know why she did it when we was not allowed to suck on thumbs as babies but that was during the depression and not a one of my brothers turned out to be lite so i dont know why she let her son turn out that way just so he wouldnt cry i would have given him some milk and a spanking but that was the way i raised my kids. my daughter started to let her boy suck on his thumb but i put a stop to that with a smack upside his backside when i saw it, he dont do that at mee-maw’s house and he knows that if he does it at home then the boogie man will get him because thats what mee-maw told him.

By Jesse's Girl

July 25, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

Charisma….you have issues. Seriously. Thumb sucking does not a homosexual make my dear. I hope you are here just-a-trollin’ and you aren’t really as back woods as you sound. Otherwise, you will teach your grandchild that mee-maw and the boogy man are interchangable.

By CJP

July 25, 2007 4:19 PM | Link to this

Charisma: You are either playing a role here or you are an uneducated, low-rent, Neanderthal!! Tacky…

By yanamom

July 25, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

Both of mine sucked their thumbs. My daughter is almost 8 and we can’t get her to stop. Her teeth are being effected by this. We can see how the teeth are being pulled out on top and pushed in on the bottom. And her thumb is horrible looking!!!! I wish she would have used a paci, then it would have been gone when she was 2. My son was about 3 when we told his sister that she needed to stop, he heard us and decided that he was a big boy and stopped on his own. He’s now 6 and doesn’t suck his thumb.

My SIL used paci’s with both of her boys. To get them to stop, she soaked a few in vinegar for about a week. Then when they asked for one, she explaned to them that the paci had gotten old and that they were not any good any more. She handed them one of the vinegar soaked ones, they sucked on it for a few seconds, decided they didn’t like the taste and threw it away. Both son’s did ask for another one a few hours later, and she again explained that they were old and not any good. They tried one again, threw it away and didn’t ask for another one. She did this when they were about 2. She also made sure that she had all the paci’s so they couldn’t accidentally find one and use it.

This worked with her boys, but it may not work for every one. And it may take more than 2 paci’s. If you have several, all different colors, your little one may want to try them all…..

By Charisma

July 25, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this

i am not a neaderthal. i like the idea of using vinegar on the pasyfier thats a good idea if you let your kids use one to get them to stop. i never did let my kids use one of them neither i didnt want my boys to me namby pambies and i didnt want to teach my girls that it was right to suck on things so they were breast fed and then weaned to a cup and that ws it none of this self soothing stuff, if they started acting up and carrying on they got a spanking i would pop their little butts and they wouldnt do it no more and thats the way to raise good kids, my kids turned out just fine. my sister let her boy suck on his thumb and now he’s one of them lite boys and he goes with a boy down in atlanta. i dont like it and if he was my son i would have spanked it out of him but she let him do it and now he is ruined but thats their business. i hope if you let your kids suck on their thumbs and on the pasyfiers that they dont turn out to be one of them lite gay boys. i dont think it hurts the girls and makes them in to gays i just think it makes them boys into gays when they suck on their thumbs and they get it in their head that its ok.

By Lynette

July 25, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

I used pacifiers with the two boys. I hated the look of it but it had to be done. The oldest had colic and it soothed him a great deal. We had a throwing away party the week of his first birthday. The other boy liked them two at a time. I finally just would not take them(pacifiers) out of the house. We always called it a plug.

My youngest is a girl and I nursed only that one. She learned the thumb early on when I was in a spot I could not nurse. She was great at getting herself to sleep and soothing herself from the start. She just gave it up all by herself and about 7 months.

Now that I look back on all I have gone through with those kids in the last 22 years thumb or pacifier seems really trivial.

By CJP

July 25, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

By using your “logic” wouldn’t that mean your children grow-up to enjoy getting spanked? You are sick. PLEASE- do us all a favor and stop contributing to the gene pool. In fact, ask everyone with your DNA (look it up) to stop contributing.

By Charisma

July 25, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

cjp are your kids lite? i bet they are little mabmy pambies because you dont know how to raise them right and let them suck on their thumbs and their pasyfiers and stuff. if you was mine i would still woop you upside your backend. you should be ashamed for saying my kids like to get spanked its not a reward its to punish. you dont spank to make it feel good and if my kids liked it then i wouldnt have it and they would not be welcome in my house if they acted like perverts

By The Momster

July 25, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this

When will parents just relax? Who cares whether an infant sucks a pacifier or fingers? Babies need to suck, and it doesn’t matter what they suck. They will eventually outgrow either pacifiers or fingers. With three children, I had one who sucked fingers, one who sucked a thumb, and one who only liked pacifiers. No one went to kindergarten sucking anything in public. And if they sucked in their sleep, who cared? One finger sucker never had braces, one did. Time to move to a more meaningful topic…..

By mother goose

July 25, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this

I am a national early childhood educational consultant and published author. I work with Speech Pathologists across the country and they want you to know that children who use pacifiers for extended periods of time can develop speech problems. My son ( in college) used one when he was 3-6 months and my daughter used one too. I certainly offered it when needed ( while they were less than one year old) but it drives me crazy to see parents who are unwilling to “break the habit” when it is long past its’ course. Also, you will be making an extra trip to the orthodondist if your little one is walking around with a paci in her mouth until she is 3. It stands to reason that prolonged use of the paci ( when teeth are in the mouth) will affect the position of the teeth. Please take this into consideration when you see those who are to lazy to give the paci it’s appropriate exit… you may be spending more time in speech therapy or at the orthodontist than just one creative week of #$%^& when your child turns one and does not want to lose it. DITTO for bottles. I was at a Gwinnett County School when a sibling came in with her Mom. Mom told the teachers that her daughter was 4 and in Pre-K. While she was waiting ( for her child to come from the classroom), the daughter pulled out her bottle and relaxed on Mom’s lap….HELLO? Ditch those bottles and get them used to a cup when they are ONE. Just a few thoughts from one who has heard advice from others across the country!

By Lynette

July 25, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this

My kids were all off the bottle really young. I only got to nurse for 9 weeks with my youngest.

Never had issues with the oldest with speach patterns as he was very verbal from the start. the younger ones both had impediments.

By fk

July 25, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this

My son was not a thumb-sucker, nor did he have a pacifier. However, we still had to foot a $5,000 bill for the orthodontist. And, although he was verbal at a very early age, now, at 16, I think he’s developing a speech impediment. I swear, I get a headache from concentrating too hard when he mumbles.

By Jesse's Girl

July 25, 2007 7:12 PM | Link to this

I think it would be interesting to know if Hunter and Charisma share the same IP address. Hunter rarely disengages…regardless of the subject at hand.

By Hunter (the one and only)

July 25, 2007 7:25 PM | Link to this

Jesse, no, we don’t. As a matter of fact I was a bit busy today and have not yet had the chance to read any blogs. I know, sad. I spent the day at the spa; it was pure heaven. Now, to address Charisma. Well, to start with, this person is seriously misnamed because they obviously have none of that for which they were named. Talk about your misnomers. Secondly, while I share her dislike of homosexuals, I do understand that it just is not possible for a pacifier or sucking one’s thumb as an infant to cause one to become homosexual. Those tendencies are created during puberty when one’s mind is warped with liberal idealisms and televised acceptance of homosexual life. Charisma, my dear, please check into rehab, I have a feeling you could use it.

By sadmom

July 25, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this

I just came on board toward the end of the day but want to share our story. My son is now 6 and because of his thumbsucking the dentist installed a metal “crib” on his palate that would stop his thumbsucking. It didn’t work, and he kept right on sucking. She is now saying that she will put in a rake, which tears up the tongue, to make him stop for sure. I wish I had discouraged it when he was about 2. By them time I started using the bitter liquids on his thumb (age 5) it was too late. The two older girls never had a problem but then again I stopped the pacifier (age 2) with the oldest and the thumb (age 2) with the middle one. I have told the dentist I don’t want that rake put in, I have been putting duct tape on his fingers, it is working and I hope he will break the habit, she said to keep at it until Oct. then she will decide about the rake. The main thing that is bad is when a child is old enough to talk and has a pacifier or thumb stuck in while they are talking, that is to be avoided.

By J's mommy

July 26, 2007 6:12 AM | Link to this

I can remember when my daughter (now two and a half) was just born. My mom was convinced she needed a paci. The kiddo never really took to one, preferring her middle two fingers of her left hand instead. She sucks those two so much that she even gave herself an infection on one of them when she was a few months old. She’s gotten pretty talented at multitasking… she can suck her middle two fingers while sticking her index finger up her nose. Eeewwww!

Last summer, our family went through a stressful time with my mother’s death, and she took up the paci briefly at age 18 months. She called it her “boppy.” We were on an out-of-state road trip for a few weeks dealing with my mom’s final business. The attachment ended pretty quickly. She still sucks her fingers now.

I don’t mind the finger sucking, but it’s hard to ensure that her hands are clean. Many times, I’ll come to get her at daycare, and she’s sucking her fingers. When she takes them out of her mouth, her fingernails are dirty. Ugh. ((Shudder!))

By mother goose

July 26, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this

Sadmom….you are right on…when they old enough to talk, the paci should go. I have spoken to over 75,000 educators in 46 states and know that anything I say may be taken in different ways. I do want to clarify that you MIGHT still need braces even if you never took a paci or sucked your thumb and/or you may need speech therapy too but when you do continue to use a paci or suck your thumb it CAN increase the problems in your mouth. Read on… Encyclopedia of Children’s Health: Infancy through Adolescence Both dental cavities and misaligned teeth have long been associated with pacifier use. Neither pacifier use nor thumb sucking is likely to interfere with early dental development. However, if continued past about age three, either one can contribute to protruding front teeth and an overbite. Orthodontic pacifiers do not prevent dental abnormalities. Many dentists believe that neither pacifier use nor thumb sucking should continue once all of the baby teeth have erupted. A dentist may recommend devices that are designed to discourage pacifier use.

helpforkidsspeech.org If your child continues to need a binky after the age of one, try to limit usage to nap time and night time. At all costs, the binky should be completely gone by age two! And no matter what, do not give your child a pacifier if he/she is already happy! most speech-language pathologists will agree on the need to “banish the binky” so that normal mouth and speech development can occur.

If I could share one thing with all parents it would be this: If you see another child who is well rounded, polite, eager, kind and simply delightful…you ask his or her parents for tips. They have been down the same block you are traveling on and have obviously done something right. DO NOT stick your head in the sand and say.. THESE ARE MY KIDS AND I WILL DO WHAT I WANT WITH THEM. While this is true, the rest of us will quickly realize that what you have done may not have worked and you need more than a little help. Eaxample…if you are buying a car, you ask others who already have that car how they like it or some of you ( like me) check everything out about the car on consumer web sites. This is a researched purchase and you will probably be happy with it. Some may fly by the seat of their pants and go to the dealer and impulsively just pick a car off the lot( salespersons love you..they hate me as I am way too thorough and WILL get the best price). The problem is…you can always sell your car if you do not like it but you are stuck with your kids and they are counting on you to do right by them. When they arrive at school, the teachers KNOW what the problem is…YOU. This goes for those of you who let your kids stay up until all hours at night right before school starts ( yes, it is YOUR choice). Teachers have your number and your kids WILL NOT be on their favorite list…oh yes teachers do have favorites and it is not always the smartest or cutest…it is the well behaved and well rounded child who is kind and thoughtful. They see thousands of children and know which parents have a clue. If you do not believe me…just ask a teacher. Enough preaching today…enjoy the sun!

By Quindamomof6

July 26, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this

On the issue of thumb sucking both are bad for the child. If I had to choose one though it will be the thumb. My oldest(16)sucked her thumb until she was 13. I couldn’t convince her to give up her thumb. She said that it was sweet and she liked the way it tasted. She didn’t quit until she got her first crush on a boy when she stopped. My baby son is 20 months old and he sucks his thumb. (He was taken off of the bottle before he was a year old). I figure that if his pediatrician doesn’t oppose to it then hay whats the problem with it. I will let him suck his thumb until he grows tired.(My mom did it to me). I quit when I was 13. I never needed braces or anything on my teeth. I have a nephew who is almost 30 and he sucks his and I have a cousin who is 40, married with kids and she sucks hers also. I think that to each is own.

By Fulton County Mom

July 26, 2007 8:16 AM | Link to this

A pacifier is an easier habit to break than a thumb….That said, my eldest sucked her thumb FOREVER! However she did break it just as her first permanent teeth came in. My youngest never used either and was never a self soother….its been an up hill battle on both. If I had it to do over they both would get the Pacifier.

By Jesse's Girl

July 26, 2007 8:35 AM | Link to this

What is up with all of these adults sucking their thumbs? Even though identities are anonymous here…I would be MORTIFIED to know that people knew I was an avid thumb-sucker and wrote about it on a blog!!! AAhhhhh!

By Hunter

July 26, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

Adult thumb suckers? I bet they vote demon-crat. No self respecting Republican would ever do such a thing. Disgusting. If I knew an adult who sucked their thumb (and, given of course that I knew that they did it), I am afraid I would have to tell them that it is a disgusting habit and should be stopped immediately or they will burn in hell with the rest of the liberals.

By debby

July 26, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

I sucked my thumb as a kid and was still doing it at 8 or 9 years old—had to have braces because of protruding front teeth too. I was determined my kids would not suck their thumbs so I gave them pacifiers. They loved them and never completely gave them up till about 4 years old. (not in public at that age, though)

Now late teens, their teeth are gorgeous without the help of braces, and they have NO speech impediments.

My cousin in married, 45 years old, with 2 kids, and to this day will lay on the couch and occasionally suck his thumb. This won’t happen with a pacifier!

By Jones3

July 26, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

Theresa,

Please don’t let your baby suck her thumb. It is terrible habit to break. Thumbsuckers are often ridiculed and are disliked by their preschool and elementary teachers. GERMS! GERMS! GERMS!

I watched my cousin allow her newborn to suck his thumb….he’s now 5 years old and WON’T give it up. His teeth are pertruding and his speech is distorted all from this horrible habit. The mom is at wits end because kids in his class won’t hold his hand and she’s about to shell out money for a mouth guard. She’s hoping he will be cured by first grade.

By Hunter

July 26, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

A child who sucks his thumb should be reprimanded if he or she continues to do it past the age of 1 year. It is unhealthy and spreads germs. It also could potentially make the child subject to alienation from peers and force him or her into a life of being either a loner or a rebelious liberal who flies in the face of good Christian moral values.

By erin

July 26, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this

Y’know, Hunter, I’d be VERY interested to know how exactly you manage to equate thumb-sucking with being a liberal or with burning in Hell for all eternity.

I’m looking forward to your proof that thumb-suckers grow up to be liberals!

By Momofone

July 26, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this

My daughter threw her pacifier away when she was 6 months old. It fell out of her mouth and on the ground as I was strolling her. She never wanted another one.

I sucked my thumb until I was about 9, and it didn’t do any damage to my teeth. I have the most beautiful teeth, according to my dentist. Never needed braces, and have only 1 cavity. He hates to see me coming, because he knows he ain’t making any money off me.

My daughter’s teeth are beautiful too. She even has her wisdom teeth in they don’t need to be pulled.

Thumb sucking does not necessarily lead to bad teeth.

I cannot stand to see a child over the age of two with a pacificer in his mouth. I think that’s lazy parenting to just stick a paci in a kids mouth. I’ve seen four and five year olds walking around the mall with binkies hanging out of their mouths. When they start to talk, get the damn thing out of their mouth.

By Hunter

July 27, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

Erin, it’s simple. People who suck their thumbs as children tend to be meek and sheepish, especially those who suck their thumb past 1 year of age. They tend to be social outcasts, retreating to the safety they feel while sucking their thumb. Social outcasts tend to gravitate towards evil liberalism because it’s the only way they can be accepted and make friends. So they become liberals, and thus are doomed to burn in hell for all eternity for being wicked heathens.

By DB

July 27, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

ROFL at Hunter!! Honestly, this is one creative dude/dudette! I am in awe of the trouble-making talent Hunter packs into each post!

By Jesse's Girl

July 27, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

Yes….it definitely adds a je ne sais quoi.

By Hunter

July 27, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this

Dudette, thank you. As for trouble-making talent? I am not sure what you mean. I simply state my opinions. Isn’t that why the blog has a comment section? To comment with one’s opinion?

By Jesse's Girl

July 27, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this

Hunter…there used to be a person named SouthernBelle a couple of years ago that would write into the Relationships section. She was always good for a chuckle and giggle. I don’t think anyone took her seriosly. The two of you have quite a bit in common. You can tell us….seriously. Chi `e?

By JJ

July 30, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

Theresa When are you going to post a new topic? This one is just about a week old……..

thanks,