HI all,

Alright - I confess - I sucked my thumb till I was in second grade, when I
got disgusted and made my sister hide my "lovey" to help break the habit. Now
I know that my palate was stuck; I was bottlefed on a schedule; needed
several years' orthodontia for a wide overbite and narrow palate, and
recently had manipulative treatments that AT LAST aligned some of my facial
bones.  Looking back through the analytic eyes of an LC, I was probably
trying to rearrange my palate and cranial bones from the inside, trying to
get more food, and trying to self-comfort in the days of "don't pick them up,
you'll spoil them."  Probably in that order.

I firmly believe that a higher-than-normal "need" to suck - you all know
these kids (I had one too) - is a symptom of a problem that needs to be
addressed.  The answer is not to plug them, but to find the problem and the
solution.  Some need more food (most of them, usually).  Some babies need
much more skin contact and massage. (this was the answer for my daughter)
 Some need some manipulative treatment for bony misalignment. Some need
oralmotor therapy to help organize muscle contraction patterns. etc. etc.

I still contend that there is no biologic need for pacifiers. If someone
thinks a baby "needs" one, the cause should be carefully investigated and
remedied. Nature's pacifiers are called "breasts" which are conveniently
attached to "mothers."

Linda Smith, wearing a light gold "Something wonderful to grow on" shirt from
Diana Designs today, and nearing the home stretch in my Breastfeeding
Shirt-a-day celebration of world breastfeeding week that stretched to a
month. Dayton, Ohio.