Esme got a dummy at five weeks but found her thumb at 8 weeks and still sucks it now. I was happy when she sucked her thumb as i was sick of finding, washing and sterilising the dummy (i was BFing so no bottle-washing for me to chuck it in with) and she couldn't drop her thumb on the pavement while out and about.

I have to admit i don't like the look of a dummy, but that's personal preference - it makes me think of hannibal lector in silence of the lambs with that gag over his face - YUK! I know, i'm an oddball....

DP sucked his thumb until he was 3. Ladies, i have to confess...i still suck mine. Yep, i know, i'm 26. It's generally only when i'm very tired or stressed but it still happens enough that i have a "suckers callous" on my thumb where my bottom teeth lie. I have very straight teeth and have never had braces or orthodontic treatment, and my dentist told me i have the straightest un-braced teeth she's ever seen. SHe also told me that DD's thumb-sucking won't be a problem unless it goes on past age 7, when her adult teeth start to come in. I guess i'll just keep an eye on it, and see how she goes.

Hana