For those of you who had thumb suckers... what age did it start?

DD who is 12 wks has been fist sucking and alot more lately because she is getting better with coordination. She was "caught" via ultra sound sucking away on her thumb, I am assuming it was easier in there being all cramped up lol

not that I mind her sucking her thumb ( she does take a paci in the car ) but I was just wondering if this is the beginning of it?

Thanks!

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 4 and a pineapple who is 11 months, mommy to 3 ~angel~ babies

My 14 yr old dd sucked her thumb almost from birth! I don't know about in utero, because we never had an ultrasound. She sucked her thumb for years when she slept only recently stopping. Oh yeah, her teeth are fine! She does not need braces or any thing!

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~Happiness is a large family~

At that age, a lot of babies use their hands for self-soothing. It's actually a good emotional sign, because they are learning how to sooths themselves, rather than demand you do it. I wouldn't worry either way.

I sucked my thumb until I was 6, and my teeth grew in straight - never needed braces.

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The Really Needy, Special, Networking and Talking Mod

DD started in utero and hasn't stopped yet (4yrs). I tried soo hard to get her to take a paci, but she would spit it out and put her thumb in her mouth!

I have both a thumbsucker and a paci veteran. I have to say, that at times, I wish ds would have sucked his thumb also. DD always has a soother with her and seems to be able to self soothe better than him (like when they get shots and stuff). I am glad we weaned him from the paci, but miss that ability to pop it in when he gets very upset!

My younger son was a thumb sucker from a very early age although I don't remember exactly when he started. I think it was by 2 months of age but my husband thinks he started almost immediately. He stopped sucking it over the summer at about 21 or 22 months old, but not by choice - he broke his arm and couldn't suck his thumb for 3 1/2 weeks. By the time the cast came off, the habit was broken.

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8-27-2003), Ian (9-28-2005), & Baby Boy #3 (EDD 11-9-2008)

steph, that is a hard way to break thumb sucking! poor lil guy! I can only imagine that he needed it more than ever then...bless him

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 4 and a pineapple who is 11 months, mommy to 3 ~angel~ babies

My son has sucked his thumb for almost as long as I can remember. It must have started within the first couple of months. I just remember being glad that he "found his thumb" because he was then able to sooth himself to sleep better.

He is now 2-1/2 and still sucks his thumb when tired or going to sleep. His teeth are straight, but kind of spaced out. He might need braces some day, but I do not believe it is because of the thumb sucking. Everyone in my family has had braces, it's just heredity and a fact of life for my family!!

I also sucked my thumb till I was about 5 years old. Only at night in the last years. I remember wanting to quit by then.

Yes...literally! Seriously though, it was a pretty painful transition for all of us. He really did get comfort from being able to suck his thumb and it hit him pretty hard when he couldn't do that. I don't think it was a coincidence that he developed sleep issues at that time and I still think he has a hard time (even now) soothing himself when he's upset. I tried everything - even tried to get him to take a pacifier or suck the other thumb. NOTHING worked.

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8-27-2003), Ian (9-28-2005), & Baby Boy #3 (EDD 11-9-2008)