Following in my footsteps, and to the delight of his Gala (DH's mom), River has started sucking his thumb! He has been a fan of his hands and fingers for a very long time now preferring them to most toys and pacifiers. Now, however, his thumb has nabbed the top billing! Last night as I was getting him ready for his bath he became very fussy most likely thanks to the new neighbor moving in next to Ol' Chomper (who has recently been renamed Dennis... as in Dennis the Menacing Tooth). Once in the bath he continued to fuss, which is very unusual, until he relaxed on my chest and started sucking his thumb. When the thumb was removed so I could suds him up or shampoo his hair he immediately started fussing again.This morning River and I ran some errands before I had to go to work. It was right during his first morning nap time and thanks to shopping carts and car rides he still napped. As I was getting out of the car to drop off a movie at Blockbuster I noticed that River had fallen asleep with his thumb in his mouth! I snapped a picture on my cell phone which unfortunately has no connection to the computer so I can't include it with this post. However, I promptly sent it off to both Gala and Mimi (the grandmas) and DH. Then, when I woke him up from his second nap of the morning to head to the Nanny I again found him asleep, this time on his tummy, with his thumb in his mouth. When I laid him down in his bassinet, he had a pacifier but he ditched that for his comfortable, warm, permanently attached version... his thumb.
I think it is adorable and hope he continues to suck his thumb. DH is concerned about the long term ramifications and already wants to stamp out the habit. He does have a point... I must confess that I sucked my thumb until I was in 1st grade and even 4 years later when I had to get braces my orthodontist knew all about my embarassing habit from the effects it had on my teeth.
~Recovering Thumbsucker Jill - 22 years thumb free and proud!
5 comments:
I discussed this with my Dr and she said that if they are going to suck anything let it be the fingers. She said it is much easier to break them from the fingers. I made sure neither of my two sucked their thumbs. I would remove the thumb and give them their fingers. My son sucked the two middle fingers and I made him stop sucking them during the day when he was close to two. He eventually stopped sucking them at night. My daughter sucked the first two fingers and I made her stop sucking them during the day around her 2 yr old birthday. She is 2 1/2 and I still find her with them in her mouth in the AM. We shall see how it works our for her.
Ooh, that is good to know! It wouldn't be too difficult a transition with River either because he started with his fingers and still sucks on them quite a bit. Yay, I'm glad we have a good alternative. Thanks for the advice!!!
I never sucked my thumb as a child. I was one of four and only one sibling sucked her thumb. Nadia started sucking her thumb around 4 months old. My one nephew sucks his thumb and he has a favorite thumb as did my sister. Nadia goes back and forth between the two. I think it's cute. 95% of the time she only sucks her thumb when she's sleeping or tired (like when I am rocking her before a nap). She never liked pacifiers. I hadn't heard of the idea of giving her fingers instead. I am not sure if that would work for Nadia since most of the time she's in her crib when it happens and I wouldn't want to wake her up.
Some babies suck their thumbs and some don't. So, I think that if they DO that they must have a NEED. Two out of my 9 sucked their thumbs. All my girls needed braces whether they sucked or not.I say let him have his comfort. It is Sooo dang cute. I think this will be your least thing to worry about with this adorable heart-breaker dolly baby :) He's sooo precious :)
Boy is he growing up! I lost the link to your blog, but just found you on Buffalo Jen's comments. He is a cutie!
Lynn (TTC adoption)
Post a Comment