Binky/thumb-sucking problem - need advice

Marron has been very attached to her binky. We've been able to get her down to just needing it for sleeping.

My sister recently moved in with me and my niece (just turning 5) still uses her thumb sometimes. I've noticed Marron getting her binky more often lately, and now when I take it away from her she sticks her thumb into her mouth! She has never used her thumb before now. When she does this, I correct her and tell her to get her thumb out of her mouth.

I don't want her to start becoming a thumb-sucker, b/c I feel this will be harder to break than the binky, since I can at some point just throw away the binky.

So my question is, should I just let her have the binky a bit more for right now, and then not worry about the thumb becoming an issue, or should I continue to fight both battles?

Message edited 8/17/2008 9:23:15 AM.

Re: Binky/thumb-sucking problem - need advice

Anybody have any words of wisdom?

Re: Binky/thumb-sucking problem - need advice

I don't think thumb sucking is that big of an issue. I sucked my thumb forever. I don't see any real problems with it besides needing braces later on in life but I didn't.

And I never did it in public when I was older. I knew that it was a private thing.

Re: Binky/thumb-sucking problem - need advice

Bump

Re: Binky/thumb-sucking problem - need advice

I would give back the binky and then speak to the ped at her 2.5 year visit and see what they suggest. If I had a choice it would be binky over thumb sucking.
The only other suggestion is maybe speak to your niece in private and explain to her that she is the big cousin and ask her not to suck her thumb around Marron or only do it in private. I think she might listen to you. I know with my niece if you make a big deal about it she will usually listen to me.

Re: Binky/thumb-sucking problem - need advice

I would definitely give her the binky for now...she is probably confused that someone new is living in her house and it's a comfort/familiarity thing with her.

We have something similar going on here - but it's not a neice it's her new baby brother. She used to always use it for naps only and sometimes the car, but now since her brother arrived she has it during the day along with her big blanket. . It's not even that she sees her brother using it, it's totally a comfort thing to her. It's been a month and she'll bring them down in the morning, then when she's ready to eat she hands her nuk and blankie to me and I hide them. Sometimes she'll ask for them later on and I just give them to her if I can't distract her easily. It's definitely getting less and less. I think it's just a phase and she'll get past it. HTH!

ETA: At first I would make an issue out of it and say no and she'd flip out crying. I realized she is going through an adjustment and tried not to make an issue out of it and would casually ask for it and she'd have less of a problem giving it to me.

Message edited 8/18/2008 8:05:38 AM.

Re: Binky/thumb-sucking problem - need advice

Thanks so much for the replies. I spoke to my niece and asked her not to use her thumb around Marron because Marron wants to do everything that she does. We'll see how that works.

I've also been trying to give her a little latitude with the binky. I just make a big deal when she is trying to talk to me with it in her mouth. I tell her I can't hear her with the binky in her mouth.

Hopefully this will be short lived!

Re: Binky/thumb-sucking problem - need advice

yes that's how my son iis...as son as his pacifier is out he sucks his fingers...I would just let it go for now...until you decide to get rid of it (my son still has his he is almost 3)

Re: Binky/thumb-sucking problem - need advice

What concerns you about the thumb sucking?

I don't think thumb sucking is a problem really. It doesn't harm their teeth or their bite, and I think most kids pick up that they shouldn't do it in public anymore by a certain age. If it helps comfort them and gets them to sleep, I'm all for it!

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it.