Baby loves to suck on my finger!

[mummy marja]

He WILL NOT STOP. He is 2 months old, and is totally addicted to my middle finger. I don't mind and love that I have a way to keep him happy, but it would be nice if I didn't have to be attached to his soother all the time! He is a fast nurser (about 5 minutes is all he needs) and then he still wants to suck, but not my nipple--he wants my finger! He actually gets very angry if I continue to offer the breast when he is done. I've tried 3 different soother shapes but he won't take them. Any one else been here? Any tips for getting a baby to take a soother? He obviously has a high need to suck!

[ann_of_loxley]

We were there. He eventually lost interest in the soother. We eventually worked my boobs out! DS2 also only nurses for about 5 mintues - do you have a huge supply/fast letdown by any changes? I know I have a huge supply and fast letdown so 5 minutes is all he needs to get full! I do some heavy block feeding and that way he can comfort suck as much as he wants without getting too much milk! It does mean he nurses more - but I can also now nurse him in a sling. Very handy. He would never take a soother/pacifier so I was stuck really with very few options! Very glad we worked the boobs out though!

[rightkindofme]

Both of my kiddos have refused pacifiers and love fingers. The best I can say is it doesn't go on forever (well, it didn't with older child--younger child is just getting going).

[jsh7809]

Same here. I have a big milk supply so at some point around 2-3 months she realized that she preferred the finger over the nipple, since she didnt' always feel like gulping. Extreme block feeding helped some, but she can be pretty brutal with my nipples, so I actually prefer the finger too.
Now it's FINALLY getting a little better at almost 5 months, but she is actually seeming to be less interested in finding her own fingers and thumbs these days and just grabbing my hand and pulling it to her mouth. However, her suck need might be diminishing a little bit, so don't lose hope!
As frustrating as it is to be a human pacifier, I try to look at it like, at least I have something I can almost always calm her down/ get her to sleep with. In the future, it might not be so easy (although of course I'm hoping she'll learn to self soothe!).
I think once they have more control and can find their own fingers/ hold a pacifier themselves, it will get better... good luck!

[Tway]

Oh, yes. It was the only thing DD wanted, other than a boob, in her mouth. I think it tapered off around 3 months or so, and she eventually took a paci and still does. I worried about it a lot, but it really was just a phase. It'll pass!

[slgt]

No advice - I could have written your post, mummymarja!

[Quinalla]

I would keep offering the pacifier occasionally, at the very least they are fun toys My DD did suck on my finger some when she was little, but not much after 2 months. She will occasionally suck on a finger if I stick one in her mouth checking her gums (still no teeth) but she is more likely to bite/gnaw at this point. But I do understand how it is good and bad at the same time for sure!