Dummy versus thumb sucking...?

[belfie]

DS has always been a pretty happy cruisey little fella so we've never given him a dummy. BUT, just this last week he's discovered that he has a thumb, and he can suck it! He tends to wear mittens to bed (he's an eczema scratcher) and seems to even be sussing out how to suck the thumb through the mitten, so he's pretty keen.

Sooooo, everything I've read suggests that dummies are much easier to remove (later) than thumbs (lol!), just curious to know what others think? I've tried him with a dummy this morning and he seemed to be quite happy with it. But I don't particularly want to use it to help him get to sleep as he currently does that quite happily on his own. I'm thinking I'll just replace the thumb with the dummy whenever I see him doing it.

Love to hear others thoughts/experience. TIA!
Belfie
P.S. does the hand they suck provide any indication of right/left handedness? He's sucking the left... interesting.

[Oorki Galoorki]

i have one of each and i personally think a thumb is sssooooo much easier.... as i never forget it and if he is tired its just there...
we got rid of the dummy when dd was 1 and i still think i should give her one again(she is now 20 months)
my ds will stop eventually... BC i was against thumb sucking as i sucked my fingers until i was 12 so always thought when i would have kids i would get to choose...(thumb or dummy)i also thought a dummy would be best because you can get rid of it... but i now see that isnt a great thing. as often we force them to have a dummy and then rip it away from them and say nope no more... a thumb is the natural option and then they choose when to stop...unless you do the mean things like wrap up the thumb or put bad tasting things on it..

[~clover~]

A thumb is alot more convenient!

I asked the same question about 6 months ago. DS used to use his thumb, but doesn't actually suck it anymore. It really only goes in when he's teething or sometimes when he's upset.

I think its up to him & what he wants. DD1 stopped the dummy at 6 months & DS stopped it around 4 months. DD2 refused it from the start using her thumb on occasion.

I have a friend whose DD had a dummy til she was 3 & another friend whose 5 year old DD still sucks her thumb to sleep.
The one with the dummy had to carry 3 everywhere they went. Not fun if one got lost, lol!

[Olive]

i third the convienece of a thumb!!! DD1 was the best self settler with the thumb, but as a dental nurse i hated it!! i can see the damage that was done from the thumb, yes some people suck thumbs with not dental damage, but not all!!
we stopped DD sucking it at the start of the year, we used sports tape around her thumb so she couldnt remove it and it was uncomfortable to suck, it took a few weeks, the first few days were hard but she stopped, in reality it was pretty easy to stop her!

[JordieC]

Well we have a thumb sucker here! We tried a dummy but t didn;t work and TBH I'm so glad she didn't lke them cause we don't get up to replace them. She has used her thumb since about 5 monthsd to self-settle and just in the last month has used it during day to calm down or to show she is tired. I do hope she grows out of it but I've heard it isn't an issue until they're about 4. Not much I can do anyway - she loves it!

[satya]

My son has a dummy. Initially I was against them but when the middy in the SCN suggested one to calm him we gave it a go & he's been the happiest, calmest baby ever.

I was a finger sucker as a child.... yes child.... not just as a bub.... I had two fingers on my left hand that I sucked (and I'm left handed) and it was sooooooooooooooo hard to break the habit. I'm hoping the dummy addiction will be easier to deal with.

[Doing my best]

I have a friend whose DD had a dummy til she was 3 & another friend whose 5 year old DD still sucks her thumb to sleep.
The one with the dummy had to carry 3 everywhere they went. Not fun if one got lost, lol!

I could have written that exact post about my niece and nephew..

Personally we don't use either. I had different dummies for DD, but she never wanted them, and will occasionaly chew on them if she is teething. She never sucked her thumb either (until this last week when she is getting some molars through)..

I think the child will decide which they prefer. It could also just be a phase of "i just discovered I can put my thumb in my mouth"

[AJC]

DS has just discovered his thumb too. I am fine with it, we tried him with a dummy 3 times and each time he wanted nothing to do with it. Thumb seems to do the job so am just going to let him go with that. And just for interest DS is sucking his right thumb so perhaps Belfie your little one is going to be left handed.

[SamiH]

Just a small comment as most of the posters have covered off the topic well!!! .....

re a dummy - as the parent, you can restrict usage! Eg my kids have only had them when it is sleep time - occasionally wind down time - never play time, book time, movie time - you get the gist. Zander actually wont take it any other time - and at the moment is starting to spit it out as soon as he is in his cot anyway ...

but back to topic ...

Someone said about seeing kids at the shops at 3 yo or similar - that can be avoided if you have some of your own rules in place regarding use and not just free for all.

Just my 2 cents worth