thumb sucking

[eupraxia]

I have noticed recently that the number of children sucking their thumbs seems to be getting less.

I have 4 children, 3 of whom still suck their thumbs dispite all being over 18.

Out 8 children my mother had, none did it. out of 20 grandchildren 7 did, 5 of them girls.

I know that babies do this before they are born, but how many out there have done this as a child or still do it on the sly as adults. Are the number of children doing it going down or is it just dummies are preferred?

Do more girls than boys do it?

I watched my sister fight to get their kids to stop so I didn't bother trying with mine. I didn't see the point.

Incidently my youngest didn't want the thumb or the dummy.

Thanks for your time. Eupraxia

PS none have had much of a problem with their teeth being puched out.

[spikeybob]

my friend who has twins was told by the midwife that it would be easier to wean a child off a dummy than the thumb as the thumb is always with them you cant exactly put it in a drawer or hide it. Also sucking your thumb can cause buck teeth in the long run. I prefer a beer bottle myself, much more comforting

[milly143]

I used to suck my thumb until the age of about 8 and then my nan told me it would shrink. She was so serious about it that I was too scared to suck it any more. Occasionaly when nobody was around I would suck my thumb in almost a rebelious kind of way, until my nan saw me do it. Then as I got older, it just got embarrasing, as soon as that happened I just kind of stopped.

[ems27]

my mum was given the same advice about the dummy and 27 years on shes lived to regret it. I've never stopped sucking my thumb, its far too late to stop now and i'm not a quiter. it hasn't damaged my teeth at all but my right thumb is smaller than the left. other than that no side effects.  

[melv]

I know of someone who still sucks their thumb and is in their mid twenties. They only do it in private, or if they are alone and watching TV or something.

I would rather my kids sucked their thumbs of their own accord, than had a dummy shoved in theor mouths purely to shut them up. Dummies are a forced form of sucking, where thumbs are optional, and most (not all) people grow out of it... 

[secretspirit]

I think less people are using dummies now so their children don't get used to having something to suck on all the time and don't need to turn to a substitute. My Mum never gave my brother or myself a dummy and neither of us were thumb suckers. I think dummies are horrible!!!!!!