7-Month-old Thumbsucking

Hi roxane, first of all your question is not rediculous, you just want to know and do what is bestfor your baby, second thing congradulations on no facifire. Babies and a natural instint to suck, and at 7 months she is learning to explore, and she probably just discovered her thuband fingers fit in her mounth, nytime you put something in a babys mouth they suck on it, what i would do everytime you se her with her fingers or thunb in her mouth just remove it, eventually she will probably get tired of you taking it out andshe will quit putting it, cause you don't want this to be a prolonged habit. Hope this helps J. L.

It could be teething or self-soothing. And no, "self-soothing" is NOT just at a certain age. Self-soothing by sucking fingers/thumb even occurs in the womb.... a 'baby" in utero does this too. It's a "natural" way to soothe for a baby.

My son, at the age of 6 months, took to a pacifier. Before that he didn't. He had "discovered" one of my daughter's pacifiers laying around in our clutter (LOL) and started sucking away. It doesn't bother me. Also at this same age, my son took to a "lovey"... he "adopted" his stuffed cow and it is his constant "pal."

Research "self-soothing" online... there are many opinions on it. Many child experts don't feel it is "alarming." And some will. It is also cultural and attitudinal. In our culture, self-soothing and getting "attached" to a lovey or the breast is frowned upon.

The thing is, she will either grow out of it, or the Parent will intervene and stop or "wean" the child off of their "soothing" habit. Or it will bother the Parent and then the Parent will do something about it. Or a Pediatrician will say something about it.

It all depends on what your take on it is. There are SO many different opinions on this, both professionally and as a Parent. Just go according to what you think will be best for your child.

I was a thumb-sucker as well. In those days as least, it was not such a big deal if a baby/child self-soothed or got attached to a "lovey." I stopped on my own, as most children do. It really depends on comfort level...and on the parent's comfort level or if they feel uncomfortable with outsiders making comments. Which is what happens sometimes.

Sorry I don't have a magic answer... but just some thoughts. Just go according to what you think is best.
All the best,
Susan

i haven't personally experienced this but my girlfriends daughter did a similar thing. Her husband was gone in Kuwait for 9 months and a few days before he left she started sucking her finger (she was 15months old) She is 3 now and STILL sucks her finger. My friend said the only thing she can think of was that her daughter was very stressed without having her daddy and that was the only thing that made her calm.
As long as she is happy i don't think its a bad thing.
Good luck.

Try teething tablets and teething rings and see if that helps limit the thumb sucking. Chances are she's just discovered how much she like sucking her thumb. Don't you're doing something wrong. My daughter sucked her fingers till almost 2. She stopped on her own when she got really sick and couldn't breath with her fingers in her mouth since her nose was so plugged.