Hi,
> I'm interested in the recent discussion about thumbsucking.  It reminds me
>of an area about which I would like to see a study done. All three of my
>children tried at some point to suck their thumbs (in the first three
>months).  I took it as a sign that they weren't getting their sucking needs
>met so nursed them more until they didn't suck their thumbs.  None of them
>ever sucked their thumbs after that and don't have any other oral fixations
>that I can see yet.  Has it been other people's experience that thumb
>sucking is an indication that baby has not been breastfed enough?

I rather think it's the other way around - that sometimes thumb suckers
don't demand enough, and so consequently may not get sufficient nursing.

In my case, I think I know why Alice is a thumb sucker. I have an
extremely forceful letdown, which caused my first child terrible
foremilk-hindmilk imbalance problems (I now believe), but Alice has
never had any problems with it. Neither of my children have been able to
comfort suck without getting flooded, so consequently they do not
comfort suck (even when encouraged to), but find other methods. Alice
sucks her thumb, Emma had a rubber teething toy she chewed and sucked
all the time (like a giant pacifier). This is only my personal
experience, but I suspect this may be one cause of excessive thumb
sucking.
--
Anna (mummy to Emma, born 17th Jan 1995 and Alice, born 11th Sept 1996)
Email: [log in to unmask]  Web Page: http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna