Pacifier/thumb sucker!!!!

I gave DS a pacifier when he was born to avoid him becoming a finger sucker. He is 8 weeks old and the past few days he has been practically EATING his hands the past 2 days. I keep taking his hands away and offering the pacifier. Well, he just found his thumb and started sucking like CRAZY! Once again, I pulled it out and gave him the pacifier (which he spit out).

Is this normal? Is this him discovering his hands and cause/effect or is this the beginning of finger sucking behavior? Should I continue to take his hands out of his mouth? I feel so bad doing this!!!

Message edited 10/17/2010 8:03:13 PM.

Re: Pacifier/thumb sucker!!!!

DD is 3 months, and I just had this conversation with the ped last week. She said it is normal, not to fight it, doesn't mean they will necessarily be thumbsuckers.

Re: Pacifier/thumb sucker!!!!

DS is also 8 weeks.
He never took to the pacifier. He spits it out or chokes on it. He looks angry when I give it to him.
Hands in mouth is our DS sign language for hungry. He started sucking thumbs too... but when hungry. Don't know if this goes for you... but its a possibility.

Re: Pacifier/thumb sucker!!!!

When you pull out thumb, try putting toy in the hand, like a link or something, at the same time you put paci in. When ds did this, I did it everytime for about a week, and he stopped taking his thumb

He also refused a paci again till he started teething. Now he's a paci addict (but I honestly don't mind) I will start weaning him off around 10m.

Eta: if you fell bad pulling it out, wait till he's drowsy or asleep, less likey to spit it out then.

Message edited 10/17/2010 8:29:15 PM.