tell me about your high suck need baby, as an older baby/ child

[jsh7809]

Just curious - I have a very high suck need baby who won't take a pacifier and (cringe) either still hasn't learned to suck her thumb for comfort or prefers not to. Added to that, I have a huge milk supply so I can't nurse her as much as I'd like - she either turns away after awhile, or nurses forever and then barfs. So she sucks on my fingers to sleep, and sometimes to stay asleep. I appreciate that I can almost always comfort her with them, but I'm also really hoping she'll become a thumb sucker soon.
So! Lots of people have posted about high needs babies turning into amazing children/ people, which is always nice to read. I do think she's extra sensitive. I'd love to hear positive traits you veteran mamas have found in your high suck need babies, as older babies, toddlers, and children, specifically. Just curious if there is a trend.
Also, feel free to tell me when they started thumbsucking and that it was amazing and saved your sanity, ha ha. She's almost 5 months old and I can't wait! (and am also trying not to hold my breath)

[katbomumof3]

Well my ds1 was a very very high suck needs baby. THe good thing was, it didn't matter where we were/what we were doing, he was happy as long as he could have a boob
He is almost 3 now, and still nurses before bed and maybe once in awhile during the day. He's an awesome guy, happy and a great sleeper.

Not what you want to hear, but he never did take a paci or suck his thumb/fingers. He also would never take a bottle until he was almost 2 and my milk had dried up during pregnancy (which he nursed though as well)

Good luck!

[jsh7809]

Hmm... well, every baby's different. He sounds like a sweetheart! DD hasn't been a good sleeper for awhile now, but I'm optimistic that once she gets more mobile she'll tire herself out and have better control. She does take a bottle of pumped milk if I have to work, so that's a good sign. She likes to play with the pacifier, but not suck it for comfort. Now that she's pulling and pushing my hand out (treating me like a pacifier, totally) I'm starting to think she just wants a piece of mama in her mouth all of the time. And I'm working on being okay with that, since it won't last forever. But, phew! It's tough sometimes.
I'm afraid I might have to figure out how to "wean" her from sucking on my fingers, but, that'd be far in the future. Certainly not till we get this sleeping thing a bit more down!

[Llyra]

That sounds like my DS-- he was a round-the-clock nurser, couldn't sleep AT ALL without the breast in his mouth continuously, and never would take a paci or thumbsuck. He also refused bottles until he was nearly a year old. He slept on my body for that whole first year, and demanded easily four times as much attention and holding as his sisters did.

He's 3 1/2 now. I wound up weaning him halfway through the second year, because I was seriously ill. It was hard, but we survived it with a minimum of upset. He started a serious relationship with his blankie at about that time-- he calls it Buppy-- and he's still heavily involved with Buppy even now. He also took bottles until he was past two, and still uses a sippy cup for soothing.

Anyway, he's a sweet, gentle, loving soul who loves his mama with his whole heart. He's good to his sisters, and loves making friends, and meets the world with his heart wide open. He's also obstinate as a mule . But he's confident and independent-- today he started a gymnastics class, which is his first real foray into the world all on his own. He walked straight into that class and never even looked back to see if I was still there. I could see his total confidence that I would be there if he needed me, so that he didn't even need to check if I was.

He still can't sleep worth a fart, though. I wish I had better news on that front, but I don't. He's been fighting sleep since the day he was born, and that hasn't changed. He has learned to fall asleep without me in bed with him, though, and that's a blessing.

What I believe-- he really just needed MORE than other babies, and it's because I willingly met that need that he's grown into such a confident and amazing kid. So hang in there-- it's exhausting, but it's SO worth it.

[hillymum]

My youngest son (now 6) was a huge boob/sucky baby who would have nothing in his mouth other than my nipple. He didn't eat solids until after he turned 2 and I had to forse wean him after he tirned 4 as I was going crazy. Up until about 4 months ago he would still try nipple sucking if I wasn't careful. he is an amazing little boy! i love him to peices! I do wish he wasn't quite so attached as I would really love to sleep at least every second night without him cuddleing up to me at 3am! Oh well, it is wonderful to be loved so much!

[carliec76]

My first would go 45-60 each feed. I thought that was normal...I didn't realize he was extreme until my second came along and was in and out in 10 minutes...lol
Anyway he nursed for 26 months I weaned him because I couldn't handle tandem.The way I did it was with juice. He rarely ever had juice so it was a tasty treat. Whenever I would nurse DD I would offer him juice. It was no drama wean.
At 10 months he nursed for less time since he was more interested in exploring his world. The only long sessions were nap and bedtime.
He is 6 now and still loves my Boobs and will take any opportunity to rub them. He will still drink it out of a cup.
He is a high needs kid but so smart. He can be over the top emotionally and demanding at times but at 6 we have slowly overcome his irrational behaviors and he makes me beam. When I say high needs I mean very demanding and everything has to be his way or a fight ensues...but then that could be just the way all kids are at his age. He was actually really easy until just before he turned 4. So the last 2 years have been rough but I have found the silver lining and things are great again...Now my daughter just turned 4 and she is getting sassy...lol
He does suck on his shirt or blankets still when tired...lol


Started solids at 12 months but still mostly boob.
Slept thru the night at 18 months because I had pregnancy nausea and headaches and Dad took on night time duty and once he realized I wasn't coming he slept thru the night within a few days.
Walked at 9 1/2 months mellowed on the boob at 10.
Always took good naps2-3 hours until he was 4.
Great sleeper crashes out like a light.
Had moments from 2-4 he would sneak into bed with us but so did his sister and she was not a boobaholic...all kids do that.
Never had issues with going to classes or school...walks right in and makes himself at home.
Friendly and talkative to all he meets.
Kind to friends and most of the time siblings.
More of a mommas boy but not in a babyish way. He just comes to me when he needs to talk.Has a hard time sharing his feelings with Dad.