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PotofLuck06
Our Baby Boy Is Here!!!
Member since 11/06 13241 total posts
Name:
Betsy
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DS is starting to suck his thumb...
DS is just over a month old. When he gets fussy, we try to give him a pacifier, but he will spit it out and then start to put his thumb in his mouth. We pull it out and give back the pacifier, but this cycle is ongoing.
Anyone have any advice on how to stop the thumb sucking? The pediatrician recommended lemon juice on the thumb to stop it but warmed of the risk of him putting his hands up by his eyes and burning that area.
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Posted 6/11/14 10:29 AM  |
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jams92
Member since 1/12 6105 total posts
Name:
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DS is starting to suck his thumb...
At that age we never stopped dd and actually found it easier for us that she sucked her thumb (was able to put herself back to sleep in the middle of the night instead of needing us to go in with a pacifier). She's 16 months and only sucks her thumb when getting ready for bedtime or nap time.
But back to your question - maybe try a different pacifier that he may prefer?
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| Posted 6/11/14 10:37 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
I would never use lemon juice.
Just let him suck his thumb, you can't fight it........especially at that age.
My DD has been a thumb sucker since before she was born, it is what it is. She only sucks her thumb when she falls asleep. She's 5 now, her teeth are fine, and I'm sure when she's ready she will grow out of it.
I don't stress about these things. If it's bringing him comfort, leave it alone. You're only going to frustrate yourself and him if you try and stop him.
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| Posted 6/11/14 10:53 AM |
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5015 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
I was thanking GOD when DS started sucking his thumb (even though I was tortured by the fact my 2.5 year old DD was still doing it). he slept better, cried less, ahhh...
Don't fight it, he now has something he can soothe himself with that you don't have to run in 100x a night to replace 
My now 3.5 year old daughter still sucks her thumb and I'm not concerned, I sucked my thumb until a crazy-late age and never needed braces, hoping the same for her.. but if not, the $3500 I'll eventually need to spend on them would be totally worth it
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| Posted 6/11/14 11:04 AM |
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MrsG823
Just call me Mommy.
Member since 1/11 5570 total posts
Name:
S
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DS is starting to suck his thumb...
My pediatrician said hand/thumb sucking is a good thing in a newborn- it is the only way they can self soothe at that age. I would never put lemon juice on a newborn- personally, I question your pediatrician's judgement telling you to do something that is aversive to a newborn.
Message edited 6/11/2014 11:08:17 AM.
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| Posted 6/11/14 11:07 AM |
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BriBri2u
L'amore vince sempre
Member since 5/05 9320 total posts
Name:
Mrs. B
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DS is starting to suck his thumb...
Why do you want to stop him? It's a soothing mechanism for him. I would let him suck it.
My DD refuses the pacifier as well and is not 100% sure on sucking on her thumb, so when she is cranky or upset nothing can soothe her. It's torture for all of us.
I like when they take a pacifier or thumb suck, it comforts all of us.
ETA: Please don't put lemon juice on his fingers...that just seems so mean  I can't believe a Dr would give a suggestion like that for a newborn.
Message edited 6/11/2014 11:27:51 AM.
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| Posted 6/11/14 11:14 AM |
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WannaBeAMom11
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 7391 total posts
Name:
Name
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DS is starting to suck his thumb...
I hate thumb sucking. Dd has been doing it since she was in utero. Your pediatrician sounds like an a$$. Let the kid suck his thumb. As pps said its self soothing and they can't lose it. I will fight the thumb when she's older.
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| Posted 6/11/14 11:24 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
Posted by BriBri2u
ETA: Please don't put lemon juice on his fingers...that just seems so mean I can't believe a Dr would give a suggestion like that for a newborn.
My thoughts EXACTLY. Why on earth would a ped even suggest that??? Forget the fact that it's cruel...........it's just not smart. Imagine if he did get lemon juice in his eyes??? OMG!!.........that would be awful!!
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| Posted 6/11/14 12:04 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
It's a 1-month old baby. Be thankful he found a way to self soothe! Let him suck his thumb. You have many years to break the habit if it continues.
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| Posted 6/11/14 12:34 PM |
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Ballet46
LIF Infant
Member since 6/14 180 total posts
Name:
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
I personally think thumb-sucking is better than pacifier sucking. To me, thumb-sucking is natural and something the baby can choose to do on their own. My ds only sucks his thumb when he holds his blankie. This is how he sleeps. Many times you see children with pacifiers who are not sucking on it to sleep, more so to be quieted.
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| Posted 6/11/14 1:29 PM |
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Linzee636
LIF Toddler
Member since 2/11 454 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
I agree with all of the above - my DS sucked his thumb between 4-12 weeks or so and then it seems he became disinterested on his own. No need to intervene at such a young age, he's still adjusting to life on the outside 
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| Posted 6/11/14 1:30 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
Posted by Linzee636
I agree with all of the above - my DS sucked his thumb between 4-12 weeks or so and then it seems he became disinterested on his own. No need to intervene at such a young age, he's still adjusting to life on the outside
Same thing here. DD did it for a month or two at that age just when she was tired and then it faded away.
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| Posted 6/11/14 1:46 PM |
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RSquared0907
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/12 712 total posts
Name:
RJ
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DS is starting to suck his thumb...
See and I WISH my DD was a thumb sucker and not a paci lover. We spent countless nights running back and forth into her room to replace the paci, which was the only way to get this kid to sleep.
At 18mo, she is still in love with her paci, but she really only uses it to sleep/nap and in the car. We would really love to be done with it, but I also see no need to fight DD on it, she will give it up when she's ready. If she needed it 24/7, then we'd be having a different conversation, but after 13mo of not sleeping, I will let her do whatever she needs to STTN!
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| Posted 6/11/14 2:45 PM |
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caps612
In love with my little guys!!
Member since 8/10 5108 total posts
Name:
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
I personally preferred that DS not be a thumb sucker, so I understand. when DS tried, we just gave the binky. We actually did have to switch binkies pretty early though so maybe try a different kind?
If he didn't take to that, then I am sure we would have stopped fighting it eventually, but our efforts worked luckily
Message edited 6/11/2014 3:13:22 PM.
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| Posted 6/11/14 3:13 PM |
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Kitten1929
LIF Adult
Member since 1/13 6040 total posts
Name:
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
I wouldn't make it an issue - he will likely outgrow it. It's just a soothing method.
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| Posted 6/11/14 3:53 PM |
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
Posted by MrsG823
My pediatrician said hand/thumb sucking is a good thing in a newborn- it is the only way they can self soothe at that age. I would never put lemon juice on a newborn- personally, I question your pediatrician's judgement telling you to do something that is aversive to a newborn.
This!
Why stop him from sucking his thumb? It's good that he can self-soothe. He can't lose it or drop it out if the crib like he can a pacifier. My DD sucked her thumb at that age, and stopped by 9 months. She was also EBF, so she hated the pacifiers.
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| Posted 6/11/14 4:01 PM |
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MrsO
Big Brothers to Be
Member since 1/07 4521 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
my 3rd ds in the beginning was using his thumb and he transitioned to the paci. I agree not a fan of the thumb sucking because as they get older you can't take the thumb away.
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| Posted 6/11/14 4:28 PM |
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summerBaby10
let's be nice
Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name:
Wifey
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
Posted by melbalalala
I was thanking GOD when DS started sucking his thumb (even though I was tortured by the fact my 2.5 year old DD was still doing it). he slept better, cried less, ahhh...
Don't fight it, he now has something he can soothe himself with that you don't have to run in 100x a night to replace
yes!! DS#2 hated sucking his thumb but he loved the paci. By the end of our first day home, I was shoving his thumb in his mouth, trying to get him to like it better than the paci.
I personally think you are lucky if your newborn sucks their thumb over a paci. As pp said, they soothe themselves, put themselves back to bed, slept better, etc.
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| Posted 6/11/14 6:06 PM |
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drpepper318
MIR MIR MIR!
Member since 6/07 8274 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: DS is starting to suck his thumb...
DS sucks his thumb at 10 months old, but not nearly as much as he used to. It used to be in his mouth all day long, now he mostly just sucks his thumb if he's upset or trying to fall asleep. When he does it because he's upset, I just let him because it makes him feel better but when he's doing it just out of habit, I take his thumb out of his mouth & he usually doesn't put it back in. I'm just going to let him continue for the time being. I think at one month old, it's totally fine & normal & I don't think you should do anything to stop it. The lemon juice sounds like a really bad idea!
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| Posted 6/11/14 9:08 PM |
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