Thumb sucking starting at 5 1/2?? What gives?

[Mama_2_Boy]

Ok, here is the quick story.
My son is 5 1/2. My baby girl is 5 months. Suddenly in the last few weeks my son has started sucking his thumb and we can't understand why? He never sucked his thumb..he never even had a pacifier or attachment to anything. We also co-sleep, all 4 of us. There has been no drastic changes in our lives whatsoever. He is crazy about his baby sister, always interacts with her, plays with her, try's to help out etc. So we are baffled. I told him he has to stop it because it could damage his teeth (now i'm not sure on that - should he be stopping it?) He only seems to do it at times when he is sitting very quiet and doing nothing, like watching tv.
Thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much!

[claras_mom]

Originally Posted by Mama_2_Boy

There has been no drastic changes in our lives whatsoever.

Even though he loves the baby and accepts her doesn't mean that it's not a drastic change.

Dd1 was a little over 4 when dd2 was born. There have definitely been times when she wants to be the baby. I don't think it's anything to worry about.

[fsonj]

I am wondering if your DS is used to being alone when doing stuff when he thumb-sucks. Were these times previously full of cuddles and undivided attention? Maybe he's just coping with a change of routine.

[moni1234]

Hi there...my son use to do the same thing he was 3 when he started and did it until he was 4.

His doctor told me that it does mess up his jaw but it also stop his chin development.

I found these gloves that allow his fingers to have free access, but very hard for him to remove. Here is the site http://EndThumbSucking.com

[nextcommercial]

He can love her but still be feeling left out. This is a very drastic change.

Behaving baby-like is completely expected. That doesn't mean you should allow it, but I wouldn't tell him it will damage his teeth. Just gently, wordlessly pull his thumb out.

Pay LOADS of attention to other things he is doing that are age appropriate. Start working on a new skill that would be age appropriate. Maybe shoe tying if he can't already tie, or skateboarding, or a new trick on his bike.

Plus, if his hands are busy, he can't stick his thumb in his mouth.

[BennyPai]

My girls both ADORE their baby sister, but I have noticed some behaviors that indicate it is definitely an adjustment! Mostly, trying to be the center of attention but there has also been a little thumb-sucking from my oldest... (She also NEVER sucked her thumb or took a binky prior to age 5, after my youngest was born so I naturally link the two.)

[AllisonR]

Originally Posted by Mama_2_Boy

My baby girl is 5 months.

You answered your own question right there.
Was your new baby not a HUGE adjustement for you? It is for him too.

It's regression. My DS reverted to baby talk when DD was about 5-6months. Lasted about a year. Yuck.

[jgale]

My 3 year old started sucking her thumb out of the blue a few months after starting preschool. I think she started because she saw other kids in her classroom who did (peer pressure?). Now, about 7 or 8 months later, she is a hard-core thumb sucker.

I don't make a big deal out of it because I think it would just become a power struggle that I would inevitably lose--I mean it's her thumb, what can I do? I do pull it out of her mouth when she's asleep and I tell her I can't understand what she's saying when she talks with it in, but other than that, I'm ignoring it.