Newborn
All Thumbs
By Rebecca Geiger
Some do it in the womb, some do it right after birth, some never do it
at all. Whichever the case, babies clearly start life with a natural
urge to suck. Almost all babies plop a thumb, fist, finger, or pacifier
in their mouth at some point during the first year. In fact, a recent
study on the use of sleep aids from the University of California,
Davis, found that almost all infants used something to help them at
bedtime. Three-month-olds preferred thumbs, fingers, or hands, whereas
6-month-olds went for soft objects such as pacifiers. Experts say there
are benefits from this "nonnutritive sucking", including the following:
- It satisfies a baby's normal sucking reflex.
- Sucking creates a soothing effect, which helps lull a child to sleep, or calms her when she's upset.
- Using their mouths is the primary way infants learn about the world.
Gayle
Flynn, a New York City mother of three, notes that while her
two-month-old, Logan, puts his fist in his mouth when he's hungry or
cranky, her oldest son Ryan never used anything, whereas daughter
Hilary liked a pacifier. "It became a nightly ritual which helped her
sleep," says Flynn.
When it comes to a pacifier versus a
thumb, it seems pediatricians are divided on which is better for your
child. Some say pacifiers are less likely to lead to dental problems
since pacifiers are more flexible, exerting less pressure on the mouth,
and their use can often be stopped earlier. Meanwhile, some studies
suggest that babies who use pacifiers are more likely to get ear
infections, but that association appears to be negligible if the
pacifier is restricted to bedtime. Other research links pacifier use in
the first few months to decreased long-term breastfeeding. Also, some
babies may develop nipple confusion if a pacifier is introduced before
breastfeeding is established.
As for thumbs, experts say
babies who use thumb or fingers may be more independent because digits
won't ever get lost or fall out of the crib.
Whichever your
infant prefers, if he's still sucking at age 2 you might want to begin
to break him of the habit, or at least limit how often he does it. For
years doctors have touted thumb or pacifier habits as fine until around
age 5, but a new study in the December issue of
The Journal of the American Dental Association
suggests that if the practice continues beyond age 2, a child's bite
may be affected, causing misalignment of the teeth. Dr. Mary J. Hayes,
a pediatric dentist in Chicago points out that nonnutritive sucking can
also lead to speech problems like lisping. Whether or not your child is
affected depends largely on the frequency or intensity of her habit.
"Some kids just occasionally place the thumb or pacifier in their
mouth, but others suck more often or more intensely," she says, and
those are the ones to watch. A pediatric dentist can help you determine
if your child's sucking is causing problems.
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About The Author
Rebecca Geiger is based in New York City and writes frequently about children's health and development.