Addicted to My Finger

417 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Jessy1019, Aug 12, 2006

Evie P.

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2006

Greetings from the Human Pacifier.

When my small fellow (13 mos) had a period of two weeks when he wouldn't sleep and was crazed with teething and walking frustration and who knows and i had to walk him FOR HOURS on my back to get him to finally fall asleep at like 10 pm, I said I'd never again wonder about my finger if he would use it again.

But now of course....

The guy won't really nurse to sleep at night (hasn't since 10 months or so) but seems to need to suck on my finger to fall asleep. Also during teething and other cranky periods, wants to suck on my finger for comfort during the day. I wonder if I am digging a deep hole for myself and him or if this goes along with letting him do what he needs to do until he's ready to give it up. What do you all think?

He is not walking much on his own, by the way -- terrified to walk without my hands to hold him up unless he forgets he is walking.

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

mom2PJS

· #2 · Aug 10, 2006

I feel you pain. I finally relinquished and traded my finger for the evil pacifier... mostly because we were a hazard on the roadway as I was driving with my right arm all cotorted into the carseat to sooth a hysterical babe. She has really never nursed to sleep because of some oversupply probs. Now she nurses then pops on and off till I give the paci then right to sleep. As for "digging a hole"... babies have intense sucking needs until at least 2 yrs old. Seems like he needs comforting and you're giving it to him, so if you're both happy I can't see that you're doing anything wrong. If it's bugging you try to find another way to give what he needs. Lastly "no cry sleep solution" gives some advice for breaking the "sucking" sleep association.

My mom says I started "walking" at 7.5 months but wouldn't "let go" until 15 months....

Save

Evie P.

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 11, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mom2PJS
I finally relinquished and traded my finger for the evil pacifier... ... babies have intense sucking needs until at least 2 yrs old. Seems like he needs comforting and you're giving it to him, so if you're both happy I can't see that you're doing anything wrong. ...

Thanks for these words, Mama. I guess it doesn't bother me, it's the usual worries AP people have out in the hard cold world of what other people think. My AP ways always seem so different from everything I see.

I did try a pacifier for the car but he wouldn't take it -- and I guess it's always the way that one just wants the courage to do what feels natural. Thanks for helping me get some courage!

Save

debsdancer

· #4 · Aug 12, 2006

Glad I'm not the only person driving around with my arm behind me stuck in a baby's mouth... this is my second baby who does this! I tried the pacifier, too, and he won't take it- but maybe i'm not trying hard enough or often or long enough? anyway, as I see it, I'd either be nursing him to sleep on the boob or on the finger, so either way you're committed... if that's what you meant by digging a hole.... needing you for sleep. But I have a two year old who needs the boob to go to sleep so I'm really not the one to ask.

best of luck with whatever you end up doing!

See less See more

Save

Jessy1019

· #5 · Aug 12, 2006

My son is also a finger sucker (only 6 months old, though). We get some strange looks and a lot of "give that baby a pacifier" comments from people, and we did actually try a paci a few times with no success. My daughter used one and gave it up on her own at nine months, so I wasn't opposed to starting one with my son. Unfortunately for my contorted arm ;-), he's not interested.

I nursed my daughter to seep until she was over 2, and imagine I'll be doing the same with my son. As long as it works for you and your babe, that's all that matters!

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month