Finger/thumb sucking?

Anyone's ped give them advice as to when to try and stop this? My son is 2 and, since about 3 or 4 months old, has sucked his first 2 fingers on his right hand (while rubbing his earlobe with his left hand ) when he is tired or is going to sleep. He does it every single time to fall asleep. He doesn't do it other than that though. I think it's adorable and it's great that he can self-soothe, but I wonder at what point it can be detrimental. I intended to ask our ped about it at his 2 year visit but forgot. I'll bring it up next time we see her, but was curious if anyone else's ped mentioned anything about it.

Edited for typos!

Message edited 3/7/2012 7:20:48 PM.

Re: Finger/thumb sucking?

My DD is 3.5 and has been sucking her thumb since she was in utero. Her ped said there isn't much you can do to stop it and most kids stop on their own around age 5 or 6. I am not sweating it, she has only ever done it when falling asleep.

Re: Finger/thumb sucking?

M sucks her 2 first fingers on her left hand while twirling her hair (yup, with the same hand )

She sucks them to soothe herself to sleep which I don't necessarily mind. However, she does suck them during the day randomly, like while watching tv or when she first wakes up from sleeping (morning or nap) and to soothe herself after she is upset.

It is starting to drive me nuts. Her fingers are getting a little crooked and I don't want it to have an affect on her teeth growing in.

We make an attempt during the day to tell her 'no fingers' when we see her sucking. Next month she turns 2 and I am making a larger effort to at least slow it down! Don't ask how though!

Re: Finger/thumb sucking?

DD will be 3 in May. She has been sucking her first 2 fingers of her left hand since she was in utero. Her teeth are messed up, her fingers are crooked and bend upward and the fingernails don't grow. SHe does it CONSTANTLY. All day, all night. We try to get her to stop but it would be a constant battle. ANd there's no way to get her to stop doing it at night. THe pediatrician says it's fine....

When I had DS at the orthodontist, he saw my DD sucking on her fingers and said, "Oh, a future customer!!"

Re: Finger/thumb sucking?

DD is 18m and a HUGE thumb sucker...when she's tired, upset, zoning, etc. I can tell it's already affecting her two lower teeth.

That being said, I'm not too concerned.. I sucked my thumb until I was about 18 and didn't need braces so I'm hoping and that DD inherited my teeth genes!

Will def be asking the ped about it at her 18m appt though