While thumb-sucking is probably not the best thing for oral development,
it has one unquestionably advantage over the pacifier -- it's under the
baby's control.  A thumb-sucking baby can take the thumb out at will, to
babble a bit, smile or grab at something, but a baby on a pacifier,
knowing that it can't get the pacifier back without assistance, will
hold onto it for dear life (and possibly hold back on those more
interactive activities).

As the baby moves into toddlerhood, the thumb has be out of the mouth
for playing and cruising -- usually the thumb goes in when the little
person is about to crash.  Since the toddler needs his/her hands for
other things, this limits the thumb-sucking time, and possibly the
potential for damaging the growing palate.  But the pacifier can be
sucked for hours on end all through these other activities.

Margaret Wills LLLL, IBCLC

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