[akasohappy]

We took DD's pacifier about 6 months ago.
She had a hard time with it and seemed to chew and/or suck on her shirts, blankets, toys, etc.....not constantly, but enought that you noticed.
HOWEVER she was sleeping well and wasn't showing any insecure behaviors so we thought it was a phase.
About 4 or 5 weeks ago she began sucking her thumb on and off. We ignored it at first thinking she would quit. We were wrong! She does it constantly now and even during sleep.
What are we going to do?? I called her dentist today, but she was out.
Do we give her binky back? Do we just let her suck her thumb for awhile?
Do we constantly get on her about? Until she knows it is not an option?
She started preschool in September and I talked to her teacher about it and she told her she couldn't suck her thumb in school so she doesn't.
Any advice?

[SKL]

My kids just started preschool in September, too, and they started the thumb-sucking shortly thereafter. They had never even had a binky, gave up the bottles at age 1, and were never thumb-suckers before. It was from seeing someone at school do it, I think. (Their preschool is part of a daycare that includes babies.) My reaction was pretty cold and mean, I suppose, but it wasn't a habit they needed to start, so I said big girls don't suck their thumbs, and yanked the thumbs out of the mouths every time I caught them trying it. It stopped pretty quickly. I'm not sure if their teacher said anything to them, but I did tell her that they had never sucked their thumbs before and I didn't want them doing it now.

[joepegcamp]

I was a thumb sucker for years. Even into my teens, if I was having a bad dream, my thumb would automatically go to the mouth. (I was, and still am, a deep sleeper and never realized what I was doing. When I was awake, I had no desire.)

I grew out of it.

When I was little, like the age of your DD, it was because of insecurity. The more you make an issue of it, the more she'll need it.

My advice--set boundaries (you can suck your thumb in your room, but not in the common living areas, etc.) Exercise is important, too. (Exercise helps to release stress in the body. My thumb sucking days ended when I started playing sports--I had something to do with all that stress in my body.) Improver her diet where you can (do this slowly, major changes and it will cause her more anxiety.)

Then, ignore it. She'll outgrow it.

[Mommy K]

I can relate becuase our dd just went to the Dr. for what I believed was a nailfungus-turns out her nails were deteriorating because she had her fingers in her mouth all day and they were constantly wet-she sucks the first three fingers & thumb too. Our dr. told us to give her a binky, as it a stress reliever for our dd to have something in her mouth. Problem is, dd never had a binky & does not like it.

I wouldn't mind the thumb/finger sucking but the nail problem that developed worries me-

[crick]

I'd give her the pacifier back for night time and just encourage the non sucking during school. To me it's a comfort thing and a way to self soothe.

Doesn't sound like she was ready to give up the "binky" and replaced it with the thumb. Problem is, the thumb is more damaging to the teeth, and increases colds/germs from everything she touches.

My dd was a thumb sucker when she came to us at 4. I let her do that in the beginning so she could comfort herself through all the changes etc. but then encouraged the use of the pacifier at night time. Encouraged her to not suck her thumb and during preschool/school she didn't. Think she was around 7 when she brought the pacifier to me and said she was done.

Might sound odd to allow a 7 year old to have a paci at night, but I didn't see it much different than a child that needs a specific bear, blankie or night light etc. It was her thing.

[guatparents2be]

amber, i think that it sounds like your daughter just wasn't quite ready. i agree wholeheartedly with crick. if she just uses it in her room, or under stress, no harm no foul. she is using it to self soothe. sometimes i wish i had something like that.

edited to correct typo.