Can't decide whether to offer paci

[ChocolateNummies]

Ds likes to suck his fingers and/or thumb a lot. However, he hasn't fully committed himself to it. Sometimes it's his thumb, sometimes one finger, sometimes two. Sometimes it's more of a chewing action. Occasionally he'll pop off the breast to suck a finger or two then pop back on. He doesn't do any of this consistently, though.

I've been debating whether to offer him a pacifier but don't want to if I don't have to. Why start a habit unnecessarily iykwim? At the same time, I don't know if I want to "risk" him finally falling into the habit of sucking his thumb/fingers. I figure when it comes time to wean from a habit like that, a paci is way easier since you can detach those. But maybe that's not the case?

Not sure what I want here. I guess I was just wondering for some input or experience. When did your babes fall into a digit-sucking habit? Maybe there's a common window for it and we've passed it anyway. Neither of my first two were inclined to suck anything but me so I'm at a bit of a loss.

Oh, he's almost 4 months old btw.

[cristeen]

If hes chewing, are you sure hes not teething? Have you offered him anything else to chew, like a Sophie? I know at that age my guy was doing similar and hes always refused pacis. Now, at a year the only time his hand is in his
mouth is when hes teething or eating.

[busymama77]

Yes, I agree with the PP.. I would offer him something else besides a paci. Sounds to me like he's teething so fingers are comforting to him right now. My DS is 6.5 months and is going through the same thing. He hasn't used a paci since he was 3 months old, but loves his fingers or really anything else that he can find to put in his mouth and chew on.

DS1 ditched the paci at the same age, too, but found his thumb right away. He's 4.75 and still sucks his thumb.

[Adaline'sMama]

If you have made it through the first four months without one, I wouldnt start now. If he was using you as a paci all the time and you could never get anything done, then maybe. But if he is content sucking on his fingers, Id let him. He may be teething, but I know my DD started sucking on her hands at 4 months and producing tons of drool. No teeth yet

[is it puppies?]

I got DD on a pacifier a few weeks ago after looking into it- I was scared to and when I first tried (around 2 months?) the site of it in her mouth made me feel a bit sick (and she didn't really seem to want it). Then closer to 3 months I finally got desperate enough when she was going through a gassy phase where she'd use me as a pacifier but be pulling my nipples around as she grunted out farts. It has been a miracle for moments like that and also in the car when she starts screaming I can reach around and give it to her to make her stop. It has also come in handy helping to put her to sleep at nap time in her swing or put her back under when she's starting to wake from a nap. Geez I sound like I use it a lot- well maybe I do now

[ChocolateNummies]

I do think some of it is teething, though he's been doing it for well over a month. Does pre-teething start that early? Sometimes it does seem to be more for a sucking need but those times don't always coincide with a sleepy time or stressful time which makes me think it's less likely to become a habit.

I think I will hold off, at least for now. Maybe in a few years I'll be doing this but oh well.

Thanks for all the advice!