My daughter is 5 months old and has been sucking her thumb since birth...she used a pacifier from about age 1 month to 2 months and decided on her own that she didn't want it anymore but she stills sucks her thumb...mostly at night or if she gets really upset. I have heard all the horror stories of babies that suck there thumbs untill there are like 5 or 6 years old and it ruins their teeth...Thumb sucking runs in her daddys family...he and all his siblings sucked their thumbs untill they were at least 5 years old. I really don't want my daughter to suck her thumb for a long time...Are there any safe and affective ways to help her stop or should I let her contiune?
2006-06-11 18:44:23 · 11 answers · asked by Kelly 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I was mostly worried because her daddy sucked his thumb for a long time and his teeth got really messed up and he had alot of problems with his teeth..so I thought she would be more prone to having problems with her teeth...But it is the cutest when she hs her little thumb in her mouth.
2006-06-11 18:54:34 · update #1
http://www.drgreene.com/21_29.html
2006-06-11 20:06:14 · update #2
My daughter is 4 months, and has also started sucking her thumb. My boyfriend just said "let her be a baby" I have to agree. I sucked my thumb when I was a baby and so did my sons father, we both have perfect teeth. What's the worst that could happen... they may need braces. They could need them anyways. God Bless
Isn't it the cutest thing you've ever seen :)
2006-06-11 19:42:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Both of my sisters were thumb suckers and had HORRIBLE buck teeth! My son started as a thumb sucker, but I wouldn't have it! We even saw his thumb in his mouth on the ultrasound! I really started worrying when he hit 3 months. After that everytime I saw him with it in his mouth I would take it out. Of course there were times when he still got it, but I found that if I consistently pulled it out, he stopped putting it in. I didn't want any of my kids to use a pacifier either, but I knew that I could take a pacifier away... I couldn't take the thumb away :-)
2006-06-11 19:00:11 · answer #2 · answered by melissajhf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let her continue, it's her way of comforting herself and isn't that what we want our children to do? Both my kids and myself sucked our thumbs until almost age 11 without teeth issues.
I don't think people should be all freaked out about a baby sucking his/her thumb, it's basically an old wives tale. For me it was a blessing when they were able to find their thumbs and comfort themselves in the middle of the night.
2006-06-11 18:54:57 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let her continue sucking her thumb. This is a baby's way of soothing herself. Most "experts" say that thumb sucking is better than a pacifier and most kids outgrow this behavior before any damage is done to teeth.
2006-06-11 18:50:30 · answer #4 · answered by Sunshine1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am 32yrs old. I sucked my thumb from birth until I was like 11yrs old. I have never needed braces. I remember everyone saying I would have buck-teeth which I didn't. As a matter of fact, people don't believe me when I say I never wore braces. My teeth are very straight! I say let her continue...Nothing like a good thumb sucking! LOL!
2006-06-11 18:49:42 · answer #5 · answered by SassyLeo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aw ..... I bet that's cute!
Let her do it. Chances are you'll be praying for braces anyway.
Most kids have to have them.
Both mine sucks pacifier for WAY tooooo long. I'm not telling how old! lol
But the one that sucked it the longest has perfect teeth. I know they say that but not sure if that's always the case. Right now your baby is little. I wouldn't worry about it.
2006-06-11 18:50:34 · answer #6 · answered by ▒Яenée▒ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is ok for her to suck her thumb because if she was on a pacifier for awhile you might have a hard time taking it from her i have a 3 month and she is just starting to suck her thumb and its not a bad thing...
2006-06-11 19:12:10 · answer #7 · answered by babydoll136022002 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at 5 months try giving her a pacifier babys have the need to suck on something at this age
2006-06-12 03:35:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would just let her be untill she gets to where you are just done with it like until she is like 3 after that stop her.
she's still young it'll be ok
try not to give her a passifire because if she's not attached to something you dont have to ween her off of it later i know people who their kids never had pacifires and they dont chew on anything besides food and are very well behaved!
2006-06-12 04:29:02 · answer #9 · answered by Jessi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ck with your doc
2006-06-11 18:47:24 · answer #10 · answered by fartman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋