Ways to deter thumb sucking??

[sherriann]

My son is 3 and a half months old and will not take a pacifier or a bottle; trust me, I've tried albeit probably a little too late. He is exclusively breastfed and has begun to suck his thumb. I know that it is a soothing mechanism and don't want to discourage the soothing by any means but am wondering if anyone has any ideas as to how to get him to maybe take a pacifier (or bottle for that matter) so that it can eventually be taken away. I have tried several styles of nipples for both paci and bottle but to no avail and for others to give them to him as all the books say. Well, guess what? The books don't have all the answers! Help!

[Izzybaby2008]

my doc said put hot pepper on the thumb because it stays in the skin and they wont suck it anymore

[sherriann]

But is that safe for a 3 month old?

[myboysmom]

I hate to say it, but I think you have a thumb-sucker. My 2 yr. old wouldn't take a paci either, and he wasn't breastfed. He only seems to suck his thumb when he's tired or has his blankie, so the last two days I've told him that his blankies need to stay in his bed, but he can see them at naptime and bedtime. So far, this has worked pretty good! But, we'll see. My husband says I'm mean for not letting him have his blankie all day.

[Emmy]

Maybe your son will just grow out of it. My son started sucking his thumb when he was about your son's age, and he grew out of it when he was about 6 months old. There wasn't any harm done...his thumb didn't hurt, and his mouth and teeth still grew perfectly. He did it to comfort himself. It was actually quite nice as he didn't need me to give him a pacifier or a bottle, he just had his instant little "pacifier" whenever he wanted it. Why not give it a few more months and see if he'll eventually grow out of it?