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labonnevie
sometimes 1+1= 4 <3
Member since 8/09 3869 total posts
Name: the lucky one
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Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
Many of you know 7mo old DD likes to suck her two fingers. I'm getting concerned that it will inhibit her development. She can't learn to crawl with her fingers in her mouth. She can't learn to talk with her fingers in her mouth. She won't know to brace herself when she walks with her fingers in her mouth. It's starting to really bother me, whereas before I chalked it up to teething because that's when it started. I do think it's partly because of teething, and I know she self soothes with it, but then there are times when she's sitting in her play area and sucking her fingers instead of playing. I am constantly pulling them out of her mouth and trying to give her a toy instead but I'm starting to become concerned. I haven't discussed with her ped because I haven't seen him since her 6mo appt and we're not due to see him till january (9mos).
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Posted 11/18/10 7:39 AM |
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Diana1215
Living on a prayer!!!
Member since 10/05 29450 total posts
Name: Diana
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
How long has she been doing this? Are we talking weeks or months?
If it's weeks then I wouldn't worry - she probably feels relief from a tooth that is breaking through.
If we are talking months then every time you see her do it, I would say "No fingers in your mouth" and try to give her a toy to play with. If you say it enough she should stop doing it.
ETA: I don't think it's hindering her development, more like an annoying habit that you want to break
Message edited 11/18/2010 7:54:56 AM.
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Posted 11/18/10 7:43 AM |
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OffWithHerHead23
Keep passing the open windows
Member since 10/06 3627 total posts
Name: Meaghan
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
I can't really give you any advice because my DD does the same thing and she is 18 months. SHe's had her 2 fingers in her mouth nearly since birth.
I don't think it has hindered her development... SHe crawled and walked more or less "on time," but she is a late talker and sometimes I wonder if that's part of the problem. It's hard to take their FINGERS away from them though... it's not like a paci where you can just throw it away!
I do know that it is messing up her teeth BIG TIME... they are all crooked
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Posted 11/18/10 7:53 AM |
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Peainapod
Peanuts are here!
Member since 1/09 13591 total posts
Name: Diana
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
DS had his fingers in his mouth all the time..for a few months too. It was defintely a soothing mechanism for his teething. He would cruise around with his fingers in his mouth. then started walking with his fingers in his mouth..here and there.
now he doesnt do it at all anymore. I notice if the teething is starting up he puts a finger in his mouth to bite on. but he'll put anything in his mouth when teething.
I dont know..DS is walking, babbling and doing fine and he sucked his fingers for months.
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Posted 11/18/10 7:55 AM |
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labonnevie
sometimes 1+1= 4 <3
Member since 8/09 3869 total posts
Name: the lucky one
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
Posted by Diana1215
How long has she been doing this? Are we talking weeks or months?
If it's weeks then I wouldn't worry - she probably feels relief from a tooth that is breaking through.
If we are talking months then every time you see her do it, I would say "No fingers in your mouth" and try to give her a toy to play with. If you say it enough she should stop doing it.
Thanks Diana. It's been months. 3months actually. She found them when she started teething back in August. I try to pull her fingers out or stop them from going in if I can, but she still gets them in there sometimes. I will say "no fingers" and sometimes she pulls them out but sometimes she doesn't. I'm honestly worried that she won't do things because she wants to suck on her fingers. She'll lay and play on her tummy and move around to toys, but often, she's so busy wanting to suck her fingers that I can't get her interested in getting into the crawling position. As I type this, I am sitting next to her watching her and glancing at her every few seconds. I've even tried to introduce the paci again. She won't suck on it but she will chew on it. Ugh!
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Posted 11/18/10 7:55 AM |
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Diana1215
Living on a prayer!!!
Member since 10/05 29450 total posts
Name: Diana
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
Posted by labonnevie
Posted by Diana1215
How long has she been doing this? Are we talking weeks or months?
If it's weeks then I wouldn't worry - she probably feels relief from a tooth that is breaking through.
If we are talking months then every time you see her do it, I would say "No fingers in your mouth" and try to give her a toy to play with. If you say it enough she should stop doing it.
Thanks Diana. It's been months. 3months actually. She found them when she started teething back in August. I try to pull her fingers out or stop them from going in if I can, but she still gets them in there sometimes. I will say "no fingers" and sometimes she pulls them out but sometimes she doesn't. I'm honestly worried that she won't do things because she wants to suck on her fingers. She'll lay and play on her tummy and move around to toys, but often, she's so busy wanting to suck her fingers that I can't get her interested in getting into the crawling position. As I type this, I am sitting next to her watching her and glancing at her every few seconds. I've even tried to introduce the paci again. She won't suck on it but she will chew on it. Ugh!
It sounds like they are comforting her. Jack did this not too long ago - I noticed when he was nervous or scared. Can you try to introduce a lovey for her to hold?
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Posted 11/18/10 7:57 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
I really wouldn't sweat it and honestly, it's hard to tell get a child so young to stop doing something that is probably very automatic for them. I can tell you that my DD is a thumb sucker (and has been since she was in my belly........I have sono pics!!) and it has NOT at all hindered her development. Her thumb sucking never got in the way of her learning or doing anything. I would just leave it alone, the more you harp on it the more she will do it. She will stop sucking her fingers in her own time........you can't force it.
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Posted 11/18/10 7:58 AM |
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labonnevie
sometimes 1+1= 4 <3
Member since 8/09 3869 total posts
Name: the lucky one
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
thanks everyone for your responses and calming me down!!!
Posted by Peainapod
DS had his fingers in his mouth all the time..for a few months too. It was defintely a soothing mechanism for his teething. He would cruise around with his fingers in his mouth. then started walking with his fingers in his mouth..here and there.
now he doesnt do it at all anymore. I notice if the teething is starting up he puts a finger in his mouth to bite on. but he'll put anything in his mouth when teething.
I dont know..DS is walking, babbling and doing fine and he sucked his fingers for months.
thanks for giving me hope!
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Posted 11/18/10 8:00 AM |
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labonnevie
sometimes 1+1= 4 <3
Member since 8/09 3869 total posts
Name: the lucky one
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
Posted by Diana1215
Posted by labonnevie
Posted by Diana1215
How long has she been doing this? Are we talking weeks or months?
If it's weeks then I wouldn't worry - she probably feels relief from a tooth that is breaking through.
If we are talking months then every time you see her do it, I would say "No fingers in your mouth" and try to give her a toy to play with. If you say it enough she should stop doing it.
Thanks Diana. It's been months. 3months actually. She found them when she started teething back in August. I try to pull her fingers out or stop them from going in if I can, but she still gets them in there sometimes. I will say "no fingers" and sometimes she pulls them out but sometimes she doesn't. I'm honestly worried that she won't do things because she wants to suck on her fingers. She'll lay and play on her tummy and move around to toys, but often, she's so busy wanting to suck her fingers that I can't get her interested in getting into the crawling position. As I type this, I am sitting next to her watching her and glancing at her every few seconds. I've even tried to introduce the paci again. She won't suck on it but she will chew on it. Ugh!
It sounds like they are comforting her. Jack did this not too long ago - I noticed when he was nervous or scared. Can you try to introduce a lovey for her to hold?
Perhaps. She will probably just suck on that too. She sucks and chews on EVERYTHING. I'm thinking of getting one of those wubbanub things that holds a paci in it so she always has that to chew on. I do have a lovey for her but she doesn't love it KWIM? Maybe I should find another one?
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Posted 11/18/10 8:06 AM |
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mommyIam
Member since 7/09 9209 total posts
Name: Shana
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
This is my concern too, since he started this finger sucking business from birth. I am a paci pusher.
I also cant stand it when he sucks on his toys, I don't mind him exploring or teething or whatever, but when he just sits there and sucks on them, I know a paci would be better for this and free his hands for better exploration.
Even with the paci, DS chooses his fingers and thumb over it, so I make sure to pop it in when ever I catch him.
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Posted 11/18/10 8:10 AM |
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csorisi
My 2 LOVES
Member since 11/05 1984 total posts
Name: Corinne
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
My DD has done this since she was about 6 months old. She doesn't so it all day--just when she is watching tv or not playing etc. She walked at 13 months and crawled a little late maybe 10 months (i just don't think she was interested) and at 18 months is talking up a storm. I don't believe it has hindered her development at all. It might cost me a pretty penny though at the orthodontist one day. I try to ask her to take them out of her mouth as much as possible but it doesn't really work.
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Posted 11/18/10 8:55 AM |
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katiebug
I'll love you for always
Member since 2/08 4624 total posts
Name: Katie
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
I don't know if this will make you feel better, but I used to suck my two fingers. I will let you be the judge on how I turned out
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Posted 11/18/10 8:58 AM |
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labonnevie
sometimes 1+1= 4 <3
Member since 8/09 3869 total posts
Name: the lucky one
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
Posted by katiebug
I don't know if this will make you feel better, but I used to suck my two fingers. I will let you be the judge on how I turned out
Oh no, then I'm screwed!
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Posted 11/18/10 9:22 AM |
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katiebug
I'll love you for always
Member since 2/08 4624 total posts
Name: Katie
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
Posted by labonnevie
Posted by katiebug
I don't know if this will make you feel better, but I used to suck my two fingers. I will let you be the judge on how I turned out
Oh no, then I'm screwed!
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Posted 11/18/10 9:25 AM |
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oneday
<3
Member since 5/05 4319 total posts
Name: Pam
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
Both of my neices sucked their two fingers. They were both normal in their development - talked, walked and crawled in a normal time frame. I wouldn't worry about it too much.
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Posted 11/18/10 9:32 AM |
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BAM 2009
I am who I am!!!
Member since 5/09 6081 total posts
Name:
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
Posted by labonnevie
Many of you know 7mo old DD likes to suck her two fingers. I'm getting concerned that it will inhibit her development. She can't learn to crawl with her fingers in her mouth. She can't learn to talk with her fingers in her mouth. She won't know to brace herself when she walks with her fingers in her mouth. It's starting to really bother me, whereas before I chalked it up to teething because that's when it started. I do think it's partly because of teething, and I know she self soothes with it, but then there are times when she's sitting in her play area and sucking her fingers instead of playing. I am constantly pulling them out of her mouth and trying to give her a toy instead but I'm starting to become concerned. I haven't discussed with her ped because I haven't seen him since her 6mo appt and we're not due to see him till january (9mos).
It won't hinder any development. When she is ready to crawl and talk and do whatever, she will. I sucked on the same 2 fingers as a baby, I walked at 10 months and was talking up a storm by 15 months. It is helping her with her teething and it soothes her. Aidan sucked on his one finger from 8 weeks old until he cut his first 2 teeth at 6 months. Now he only chews on it when his teeth are bothering him, which is a lot lately. Just cut his top tooth. He was cruising at 7 months, crawling at 8.5 months, and now he has been taking 4-5 steps everyday at 1....
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Posted 11/18/10 9:41 AM |
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NJmom
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Member since 8/05 4987 total posts
Name:
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Re: Finger sucking possibly hindering development? Help!
I wouldn't be concerned about it hindering her development at all. My DD also sucked her 2 fingers and still will at times when she's sleepy (2 1/2 years now). As she becomes able to explore her environment and toys more, she will take her fingers out when she needs to. JMO, but as a speech pathologist, I would prefer to see a child suck their fingers than suck on a pacifier. A pacifier can stay in while they're playing, walking, etc. which limits vocalizations, while fingers will come out when they're playing, manipulating objects, etc. Trust me, playing with toys and getting around will become more enticing than sucking on her fingers.
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Posted 11/18/10 2:39 PM |
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