| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
sally belly 
Senior Member
Joined: 01 February 2007
Location: North Shore, Auckland
Points: 3291
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Thumb vs Dummy - which is "better"?
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 12:36pm |
In the last week Liam has found his thumb & loves nothing more than to suck, suck, suck - much to his Daddy's "horror"  .
Is it ok for him to thumb suck or would he be better with a dummy? He doesn't take a dummy but I have only tried one kind with him. DH is concerned b/c I sucked my thumb until I was 8 or so & had to wear braces to correct my wonky teeth as a result. I hate to think what braces would cost these days... 
Any thoughts/ideas most appreciated.
|
|
|
 |
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
myfullhouse
Senior Member
Joined: 29 July 2007
Location: West Auckland
Points: 2944
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:03pm |
|
There are arguements for an against dummies and thumb sucking and I suppose it is what suits you best. Jack started sucking his thumb when he first 'found' it but stopped after awhile so Liam may grow out of it once the novelty wears off. And just because he sucks his thumb now doesn't necessarily mean he will suck it for as long as you did. You could try introducing a dummy, I tried with Jack and he couldn't get the hang of it.
Sorry I have just realised that this is probably not much help!
|
|
|
|
Peanut
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Christchurch
Points: 3649
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:03pm |
|
Good question. Mac takes the dummy but has just found his thumb and am unsure which one i should be encouraging!
|
|
|
|
ElfsMum
Senior Member
Joined: 04 June 2007
Location: Christchurch
Points: 11702
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:11pm |
|
i think(dont quote me) that thumbs are worse for teeth but thats if it is done all the time...personally I'd rather a dummy but if he wont take it that is hard obviously.. :( Ethan sucks fingers and dummy atm:) lol
|
|
Mum to two amazing boys!
|
|
CuriousG
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Raumati South
Points: 1685
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:23pm |
|
Yeah, I was told the same thing that dummy's were better for their teeth. But in saying that, I sucked my thumb for years (till I was about 9!) and my teeth are as straight as a dime and I didn't have braces.
|
|
|
|
BellaBoo
Senior Member
Joined: 16 April 2007
Points: 926
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:26pm |
Ooh good question! Bella has found her thumb too (sometimes both at the same time!). I am trying to encourage the dummy more as that is controlled by me and I can decide when she is too stop using it. Gosh I sound mean 
|
|
|
|
Bobbie
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: North Shore Auckland
Points: 6123
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:29pm |
|
I constantly hear that thumb sucking is bad for teeth but I've never seen a study that proves it. Is it proven or just hearsay?
My DH had a dummy and sucked his thumb as a child and has straight teeth. I didn't have a dummy and didn't suck my thumb and my teeth are slightly forward.
This is a legitimate interested question - I'm not trying to be rude (it's so darn hard to convey with text alone)
|
|
|
|
DJ
Senior Member
Joined: 11 March 2007
Location: Wellington
Points: 3153
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:29pm |
I sucked my thumb until I was 11 and didn't need braces. I did have to be hypnotised to stop it though!
|
|
|
|
ElfsMum
Senior Member
Joined: 04 June 2007
Location: Christchurch
Points: 11702
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:48pm |
|
i didnt suck my thumb and i had braces
|
|
Mum to two amazing boys!
|
|
BellaBoo
Senior Member
Joined: 16 April 2007
Points: 926
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:53pm |
|
I sucked my thumb and really could do with braces.
Dummy or thumb? Which ever works best! Both have pros and cons
|
|
|
|
The_Stuarts
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Wellington
Points: 509
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:55pm |
IMO dummy is better. If your kids a sucker (and most are) I'd try and get them to suck a dummy because when it's time to stop the habit it's easier (and less cruel) to get rid of your childs dummy than to get rid of their thumb
|
|
|
|
kebakat
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Palmy North
Points: 10980
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:56pm |
|
I sucked my thumb until I was 12 (yeah embarassing!!) and I needed braces because I created such an overbite with the pressing from my thumb.
Daniel doesn't take a dummy, he sucks his thumb on ocassions but not often anymore and so I don't worry about it. I'd rather he sucked his thumb than a dummy.
|
|
.Mel
Senior Member
Joined: 14 January 2007
Location: Orewa
Points: 9078
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:58pm |
|
Well if you talk to my sons dentist she will tell you to get a dummy, at least you can throw that away.
Conor is going to have to have extensive dental work because he was a thumb sucker, and I let him do it because I thought it looked cute. I kick myself everyday. He's been having work on his teeth since last year and is still having work done. He hates it and it hurts and he is so self conscious about the way he looks.
So don't encourage the thumb if you can help it.
|
Mr Mellow (16)
Miss Attitude (8)
Destructa Kid (3)
|
|
Bombshell
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Points: 6665
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:58pm |
|
i hate the look of dummies...and ella luckily is a thumb sucker...does it too self soothe and worked beautifully cause she could always find her own thumb - whereas a lot of dummy babies get upset at night etc when they lose it...
i sucked my thumb (and big toe!) and never needed braces...
we WILL be moving it out of mouth a lot if she still does it in public etc and not to self soothe in years to come...altho she doesnt have thumb in mouth unless tired etc usually so we hope it will be ok
|
|
peanut butter
Senior Member
Joined: 20 February 2007
Points: 8044
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 2:02pm |
I dont know that there is a definite link between thumb sucking and braces. Maybe for some but definately not all. I guess with a dummy you can throw it away. But as BS says, a thumb is easier to find as its always on their hand (unless The_stuarts have anything to do with it ).
Tom has a dummy and we only allow it for bed, the car and if he is out and really tired and I want to settle him. However...if the dummy is lying around and he finds it...pop! straight in the mouth!
|
|
EmDee
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Waikato
Points: 4407
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 2:47pm |
|
I was a thumb sucker until about 8 or 9 and I could do with braces! Ollie sucks his thumb too. We tried him with a dummy but he wasn't interested. I took him to the dentist a month or so back (just for a check-up) and she said not to worry too much at this point, its more when the adult teeth come in that it can do damage. In saying that my boy already has crooked teeth anyway as he has an extra tooth!
|
|
DS 8
DD 6
DS 4
DD 2
|
|
Rackhell
Senior Member
Joined: 09 January 2007
Points: 541
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 4:46pm |
Mine sucks on her tip of her tongue! yip, not thumb - tongue, and has an ulcer to prove it.
Any ideas on how to get her to take one of the acceptable pacifiers? 
|
|
Maya
Senior Member
Joined: 16 September 2003
Location: Sydney
Points: 23297
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 4:53pm |
|
My brother sucked his thumb till he was 11, and he has perfect teeth, none of the rest of us did and we all needed braces.
Dummies are easier to get rid of, but at the end of the day, does it matter? They won't suck their thumb forever, eventually they'll realise that their friends think it's dumb!
|
 Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
|
lilfatty
Senior Member
Joined: 22 August 2007
Location: Waitakere
Points: 9799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 5:01pm |
 Maya wrote:
They won't suck their thumb forever, eventually they'll realise that their friends think it's dumb! |
Hehe .. good point!
It took us three different types of dummies before we found one Isabelle would accept (she is a sucker - but hasnt worked out how to hold her thumb/hand in her mouth long enough)
Oh and Nuk dummies rock!
|
Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months)
I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  LFs weight blog
|
|
busymum
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
Points: 12236
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 March 2008 at 5:53pm |
I've heard the buck teeth argument against thumbs and against dummies
DD1 sucks her fingers, DD2 never sucked her fingers but had reflux so we got her a dummy at 2-3mos, was weaned at about 8mos from it though cause she insisted on eating it! She now doubles her tongue over and suckles that. DD3 suckles her fist.
I guess it doesn't really matter either way. I suspect it may be easier to break a dummy sucking habit at a young age (it's really not worth trying to break a finger/thumb sucking habit). But at least bubbas can find their fingers in the middle of the night!
|
|
|
|
Thumb vs Dummy - which is "better"?
