Poll Results: Thumb/Finger Sucking

You can find the original poll and responses to this poll here. Here are the results:

Did/does your child suck fingers/thumb?

Yes: 26

No: 2

If so, which?

Thumb: 13

Middle Fingers: 4

Index and Middle Finger: 3

Ring and Pinky Fingers: 1

One Finger: 1

Thumb and Finger: 4

N/A: 2

Did you encourage the sucking, or did it just happen?

Just Happened: 21

I Encouraged It: 0

Happened Even Though We Tried Pacis: 5

N/A: 2

Have you seen any problems associated with the sucking? If so, what?

N/A: 2

No: 13

Yes: 13

Details:

• Callous/Blister: 2
• Teeth/Gums: 5
• Can Aggravate Skin: 4
• Addicted: 1
• Communicated with thumb in mouth: 1

Do you limit the sucking at all?

N/A: 2

No: 6

Child Limits: 6

Yes: 14

• Allow only at sleep time: 12
• Didn't at first but do now:  1

What age did you wean from the sucking?

N/A: 18

Under 12 Months: 2

12-15 Months: 2

15-18 Months:

19-24 Months: 

2-2.5 Years: 1

2.5-3 Years: 1

3 Year Old:

4 Year Old: 2

5 Year Old: 2

If you have weaned, what method did you use?

N/A: 18

Weaned Self: 4

Limiting Sucking: 5

Glove on hand at night: 1

Andrea said: "I told him one day that he could only suck his thumb in his crib. He almost started crying. When he started to suck again, I picked him up and started walking toward his crib to put him in it. He stopped immediately."

Ranae said: "Right now we are just reminding, but I think we'll have to try something more. I've heard good things about the book "David Decides About Thumbsucking."

How did your child handle the weaning?

N/A: 18

Great!: 8

Too Soon to Know: 1

Hard But Trying: 1

Any tips for moms of thumb/finger sucking?Emily said: "his dr warned that finger-suckers tend to get sick more often which makes total sense, so we try to be careful about hand washing."

Jillian said: "It is more convenient then trying to find a paci all night long, but I do think weanin from a paci would be easier."

Nikole said: "Don't allow them to do it during the day, because that can more negatively affect their teeth. Only allow it for soothing at naps/bed"

Emily said: "Personally I love it because once he started doing it (around 4 months) he slept MUCH better and was able to self-sooth better. :) Of course we haven't tried weaning yet (he is 2) so that might be a whole other ball game - but so far I've had no issues."

Ashley said: "He associates thumb sucking with having his blanket, so we try to keep his blanket in his crib only. "

Jessie said: "I did a bit of research, and what I found at the time is the less you make a big deal of it, the easier it is to wean. That is why I decided not to pull it out of his mouth. However, only time will tell!"

Kathelle said: "With regards to weaning, my son wouldn't take food as he was too busy sucking his thumb so I gave him his own spoon to concentrate on. Then he ate fine."

Alex said: "Try to teach them to only do it at bed and nap time! I'm so glad he always associated it with his lovey."

Andrea: "At times it's wonderful! You never need to think about bringing it with you, losing it, or dropping it. But weaning is definitely tough because their thumb is always with them."

The Teacher said: "I did my own research( ha) and I think they sleep better, can soothe themselves better and are healthier because constant bombardment of germs- immune system in high alert always "

Amanda said: "I have a finger sucker and one that takes a paci, I think they both have their pros and cons although I have not dealt with weaning either (23 months and 8 months). In the long run I do think the paci may be easier to wean from, but we will see" 

me said: "Obviously in my daughter's case there were no problems. I myself however sucked my thumb for many years and I know my parents tried everything."

Leigh said: "Start saving for braces now!"

ziggyslp said: "I like that it is limited to bedtime simply for the germ factor. Part of her bedtime routine is washing her hands so I know they are at least mostly clean. If we are out and about I really don't want her putting her thumb in her mouth."

Allison said: "I would recommend not letting it go as long as we have." (five years)

Jessica said: " Just let it happen."

Emily said: "Do everything U can to avoid finger sucking!!!!! I hope to never have a finger sucker again but I truly don't think it was up to us. She instantly took to them and it's not really something in a parents control!"

 

Would you allow thumb/finger sucking again?

Yes: 15

No: 1

Undecided: 2

Try Not To, But Okay If Happens: 4

Related Posts:

• Thumb/Finger Sucking 
• Weaning Thumb/Finger Sucking

Poll Discussion: Thumb/Finger Sucking

Our newest poll is on thumb/finger sucking. It is helpful while I compile results if you copy these questions and paste them, then answer under each. If you do not have an answer for a question, you can just put "N/A."

1. Did/does your child suck fingers/thumb?
2. If so, which?
3. Did you encourage the sucking, or did it just happen?
4. Have you seen any problems associate with the sucking? If so, what?
5. Do you limit the sucking at all?
6. What age did you wean from the sucking?
7. If you have weaned, what method did you use?
8. How did your child handle the weaning?
9. Any tips for moms of thumb/finger sucking?
10. Would you allow thumb/finger sucking again?

Index: Thumb/Finger Sucking

• Thumb/Finger Sucking : http://babywisemom.blogspot.com/2008/08/thumbfinger-sucking.html
• Weaning Thumb/Finger Sucking
• Poll Results: Did/does your baby suck for soothing...

Poll Results: Did/does your baby suck for soothing?

Yes, pacifier	86 (48%)
Yes, fingers/thumb	71 (39%)
Yes, other	9 (5%)
No	12 (6%)

Votes so far: 178 

RELATED POSTS/BLOG LABELS:

• Poll results
• finger sucking 
• thumb sucking

Reminder: You can leave comments on poll results posts if you would like to add to the poll after it has closed. This would be helpful for those who have more than one child, those whose children have reached certain ages after a poll closed, and those who didn't visit the blog while that poll was open. To find closed polls, click on the poll results link above

Weaning Thumb/Finger Sucking

On Becoming Toddlerwise has some information on weaning from thumb and finger sucking. They stress the importance of substitution. Substitution is when you use something in place of the undesirable action. Your child sucks thumb/finger out of a need for self-soothing, so when you are working to stop or slow down the behavior, you want to find a replacement activity. You want to keep your child's hands busy. This might be with "...a soft blanket or stuffed animal to hold instead" (page 161).

Okay, so step one was to find a substitute when soothing is needed.

But children will also suck purely out of habit. It can be mindless, but not in need of actual comfort. The child might be bored or might not be thinking anything about it at all. You can help minimize this by not allowing sucking to happen outside the bedroom at a certain age. 6 months is a good idea, and easy to do. Give a 6 month old something to play with and she will not be worried about sucking. As they get older, you just remind them that they may not suck unless they are in bed. 

I have an exception to this, however, and that is if a child is hurt or overly tired, I allow it. This is allowing for flexibility in the context of the situation.

Let's review the three basic rules:

1. Provide a substitute for soothing. This is something to do when you are trying to eliminate sucking, and probably something to do closer to age two.
2. Give the child something to do to keep hands busy and out of the mouth.
3. Remind child to take finger/thumb out.

Something we have used with great success is a simple band aid. We put it on the finger and it helps remind the child to not suck. 

Learning to not suck on something for soothing is something that takes time. Think of it as a slow process. Stay in contact with a pediatric dentist if you are concerned. The dentist can tell you if permanent damage is being done or not. Most don't worry about it until after age four (some say three). Start limiting sucking out of bed around 6 months old. From that point, work toward eliminating sucking altogether.

For more information for preschoolers and older, I found this helpful article: http://www.nymetroparents.com/article/THUMBSUCKING-Beyond-the-Toddler-Years

THUMBS

Oh the thumb-sucker’s thumb

May look wrinkled and wet

And withered, and white as the snow, 

But the taste of a thumb

Is the sweetest taste yet

(As only we thumb-suckers know).

Shel Silverstein

Why You Should Encourage Thumb/Finger Sucking

Why You Should Encourage Thumb/Finger Sucking. The benefits of thumb sucking or finger sucking and how you can prevent it from being a problem.

In the book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, Tracy Hogg talks about thumb (or finger) sucking. She says it is "...an important form of oral stimulation and self-soothing behavior" (page 127). Hogg believes thumb sucking is something we should encourage. She says, "Remember that this is one of the first ways in which your infant gains control over his body and his emotions" (page 127). It gives your child a sense of control and accomplishment. A wonderful thing about this is that it is controlled by the baby rather than "big people." She assures that baby will give it up when she is ready to.

Kaitlyn, my second child, sucks her index and middle finger. She is 15 months old and I have never found it to be a problem. 90% of the time she only sucks on them when she is in her bed. The rest of the time she sucks on them when she is overly tired (like at church and she misses a nap), when she has gotten hurt, when she has been told no and really wants to do whatever it is, and when she feels uncomfortable or nervous (like around strange new people who are in her face).

As suggested in On Becoming Babywise, starting at 6 months I started removing her fingers from her mouth during her waketime. At first I would only do it if she was sucking and was otherwise okay. It was rarely a problem because she uses her hands to play and she prefers playing to sucking on her fingers. At the younger age, I allowed some finger sucking if I thought she really needed it at the moment.