hi all,
I am really worried about my son's thumb sucking habit, it's getting worse day by day..Whenever he is bored, or tired, he starts sucking his thumb..
Anyone else facing same problem?
I am planning to start giving him pacifier for some time, do u think that will help him getting rid of this thumb sucking habit?

surabhi preeti replied. Hi Surabhi,
Babies generally suck their thumb to soothe themselves, which is good, because they need to learn how to rely on their own resources. The ability to regulate or control one's behavior and emotions is an important developmental challenge. When your child sucks her thumb, she's finding ways to make herself feel better without your help.

You don't have to stop your child from sucking her thumb right now. In general, thumb-sucking is more irritating to parents than it is harmful to kids. Your baby will stop when she's ready and has developed other ways of soothing herself.
A recent study suggested that while a pacifier may be a signal that a mother would wean soon, it was shown that the pacifier was not the cause. Pacifiers are similar to thumbs in providing the comfort of sucking, but they seem to cause different reactions in parents and friends and family.

• Thumb-sucking usually lasts longer because children always have access to their thumb, whereas parents can more easily control the use of a pacifier.

• Speech development can be affected by pacifier use if the child using the pacifier tries to speak with it in their mouth. Thumb sucking does not pose this potential problem.

• Pacifier use generally stops by age 3, so it rarely causes dental problems, which can occur when thumb sucking is continued past age 4 or 5.
Love
Preeti shweta replied. Hi surabhi,
I think that if u have not given him pacifier till now then dont give it now also coz in my opinion its not a good option... though many people use it but then if he will get habitual to it getting rid of it will become another prob.
thumb sucking will go after a while.i have not used it till now although many people suggested it.
rest is ur wish.
take care
love
shweta