sucking thumbs versus dummies

[MummyTummy]

I have a friend who has not used a dummy ever and her little one doesn't need to suck to settle. So I think it is down to a combination of what kind of child you have, what kind of patience you and partner have and how prepared you are to try and prevent the dummy/thumbsucking.

I mentioned in my previous post that I wasn't prepared to be DS's dummy. That is purely because I just felt suffocated and a loss of independence from him being constantly attached or with my finger in his mouth, not because I was afraid of him forming bad habits. But that is purely a personal choice. Just like I loved having him in the sling and with me (kind of contradicts what I just said though ) but I know others that just needed the physical space and so couldn't stand a sling or carrier of any kind. We all have different levels of tolerance so as always - we as mothers know what is best for our baby!!

[blackduckies]

Hi Nae.
I have a lot of friends where their little ones don't use anything!!! My first 3 all required dummies both DD's loved to suck and would for hours on end, so the dummy was the only solution....either that or very sore boobies that did'nt get a chance to heal.
DS had bad reflux and needed it to help with the pain. Poppy really liked the comfort of sucking but was'nt so keen on the dummy, but as soon as she got a hand out of her wrap it was in her mouth, we like it... reasons
1: its easy!!! You never have to hop up during the night to find a lost dummy.
2: it looks cute, we might decided later on that it is'nt so cute but at the moment.
3: Cheap, dummies cost a fortune even the cheap ones, they always get lost at the most inapporiate times.

Reasons why not: I am super paranoid about all the gross things that get touched,eg: play centres trips then her thumb goes in her mouth, with a dummy you make sure its clean and if it gets dropped you have a spare etc.

I do wonder how long she might suck her thumb for??? Dummies are easy enough to throw away around 2 years. Often they will do it themselves.

See how you go often bubs will make the decision eg: thumb sucking when they get old enough.

[briggsy's girl]

Nae - i started off ok with DD using me as a pacifier - but she can't do that when we're in the car, and given that i have to go out at times, i introduced the dummy. she only uses it if distressed in the car (is more likly to chew on the handle than to suck anyway!), or when she is going to sleep - it lasts for all of about a minute once she is asleep (if she hasn't spat it already) - she doesn't seem hooked on it, and we're content with that. she does chew on her fingers a bit - so we're trying to discourage that as much as possible as it's not something i want her in the habit of - mum did fdc and i seen too many kids sucking their thumbs and having problems with their teeth

[Taurean]

Hi Nae!

Dont mind me pointing out the obvious but the only one you can control is dummy sucking. If they want to suck their fist or thumb they'll just go ahead and do it.

I refused the dummy but sucked my thumb from day dot, more or less. I sucked it until I was 10. At 13 I had 6 teeth removed followed by 4 years of orthodontic work.

My sister had a dummy and threw it out the car window when she was two and that was that!

We have dummies for DD but she's not dependent on them at all. I always have them available but often she doesn't need them or isn't interested. If she goes to bed with one, she spits it out as she drifts off - always. She never cries out for it once she's done that. When we witness her doing it you can see that she's at that point, so close to sleep, that she's thinking 'thanks dummy, I'm done with you for now' and she spits it out then off to sleep she goes. It's so damn cute!!

So no matter what your DD uses to settle her, she may not become dependent on it so try not to worry about what may or may not happen, just do what works for you now. Us mums have enough going on