There is NO history of thumb sucking in her or my families.
2007-08-02 03:33:57 · 26 answers · asked by robert h 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I had that with my 2nd, at 3 months he started sucking his thumb, so when he was about 5 months, I started putting baby gloves on him when it was time for him to sleep, and give him a pacifier, in the evening he was happy with that, and in the day when I saw him putting his thumb in his mouth, I would take it out and put a pacifier, it took about a week, and he stopped it completely. he is now 6 months, and he looks around for his pacifier when he wants to sleep, he forgot about his thumb. goodluck.
I also didn't have any history in my family of sucking thumbs.
2007-08-02 03:38:32 · answer #1 · answered by Tiara 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your son is entering teething time and will most likely suck on anything that makes his mouth feel better. Get some teething rings and some toys with teething area's on them. Let him chew on a cloth diaper or burp towel or wash cloth....all clean of course. Thumb sucking is not a genetic disease nor does it have to be a life-time habit. If you are matter-of-fact about it as your son gets older he will quit on his own. It is a comfort issue and at 4 months he is just discovering he has hands that can do things....new things always go into babies mouths!! I'll bet if he isn't already he will be drooling buckets soon...and that will stop as his teeth come in. NO BIG DEAL. Take a breath and worry about the things that are important....like college funds etc....don't sweat the small stuff over the simple things that are a part of growing up. Trust me, this is the easiest time....wait til he asks you for the car keys and there's a girl somewhere waiting for him!! Best wishes and good luck.
2007-08-02 03:52:42 · answer #2 · answered by Barbiq 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be happy he is sucking him thumb and not a pacifier. Consider the fact that his thumb is always available unlike a pacifier (that I recall looking for constantly). Babies have a natural need to suck-it is soothing and a form of security. Babies can outgrow thumb-sucking naturally. If not, there are yucky tasting drops you can ask your pediatrician about that you can put on his thumb when he is older to get him to stop.
2007-08-02 05:40:44 · answer #3 · answered by miabeth1217 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son sucked his thumb on occassion too, but it never developed into a habit. It's just their way of discovering new things. Unfortunately, at this young age I don't think there's a lot you can do to stop it unless you want to substitute with a pacifier.
I don't think family history has anything to do with it. I sucked my thumb until I was 10 and never even needed braces!
Good Luck!
2007-08-02 03:38:19 · answer #4 · answered by Proud Mommy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yeahh.. my son is 4 months also and has figuered out that the thumb is the yummiest of all his fingers.. But personally, i do not mind. It's an exploring and self soothing developingskill for him.. if down the road it becomes into a bad habit, i'll worry then. Many babies give it up on their own after loosing the need to suck.......
2007-08-02 06:46:55 · answer #5 · answered by ♥ LovingMyLittle1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My friend's daughter only sucked her thumb for a few months. It was just a phase. Don't make a big deal out of it. Giving him a pacifier is a good suggestion, but some babies don't want it. Good luck!
2007-08-02 04:25:46 · answer #6 · answered by Holy Macaroni! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let him be.
It's perfectly normal at 4 months... and for the first year or more. He's probably teething, and he can either put his hand in there, or teethers, or pacifiers. For me, the hand is the best option, because it's the least likely to fall on the floor, like all the others keep doing.
Wash his hands (with a wet washcloth, at least) a few times a day.
2007-08-02 03:40:44 · answer #7 · answered by ♥≈Safi≈♥ ☼of the Atheati☼ 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't worry about it. He is only a baby after all, and a lot of babies grow up none the worse for a bit of thumb-sucking.
2007-08-02 03:42:38 · answer #8 · answered by Tigger 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He probably found his thumb accidentally and now it's become a thing of comfort for him. Have you tried substituting a pacifier? Some babies just need to suck more than others.
2007-08-02 03:46:22 · answer #9 · answered by Jen 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They can get hooked on that thumb, I always pulled it out of their mouth and said yucky at his age he will just think your playing but if you continue he will stop. Don't trade one habit for another, Don't introduce the pacifier it is just as hard to break them from it as it is their thumb.
2007-08-02 03:51:40 · answer #10 · answered by Bingo 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋