Jennifer Molavi asks if it has been other people's experience that babies
who suck their thumbs aren't getting enough breastfeeding?  Yes!  I'm
convinced of it.  My first sucked his thumb for seven years as a result of
my ignorance that it was okay to offer the breast any time anywhere.  When I
was older and wiser and one of my twins got really good at sucking his
fingers (and it was so tempting to let him do it!) I took this as a warning
sign and breastfed him more often and he un-learned how to suck his fingers.
My twins "officially" weaned at four years old and never seemed to need any
more comfort-sucking after that (with the exception of bumps/falls etc).
Someone else wrote in about comfort-objects (e g a Linus-blanket) and I
think these fall into the same category as thumb-sucking - if a baby has
"the real thing" - breast and loving arms - then there is no need for a
substitute.  If mother is unavailable then he will find solace and comfort
in dummy/thumb/"blankie"/silky/teddy-bear - you name it!  The need to feel
safe and close to something warm and soothing is so strong ....  It seems to
me that when that need is fulfilled as it occurs it disappears sooner, if
the need is not fulfilled it persists for years and years (we've all known
an l8-year-old that still sucks her thumb occasionally, I'm sure..)   So the
little thumb popping in absent-mindedly with the nipple during breastfeeding
would be a pointer that a baby is not having quite all his sucking-needs
met.  Sad!

Pamela, Zimbabwe