>> The LC wants to know if using the
thumb is substantially different from using the finger, i.e. does the
different shape of the thumb, angle of the thumb/joint, and the awkward
positioning of the hand to present the thumb make the fingerfeeding less
effective/less desirable. The parents are asking for literature on this.<<

Laurie, there is no protocol that I know of regarding fingerfeeding. Have
you read "Training Neonates to suck correctly" by Marmet and Shell? I can
tell you that I have had a couple of dads use thumbs, and that was fine with
me. When I recommend fingerfeeding, I look at the parent's hands and suggest
which finger might be closest to mom's nipple diameter. With a very large
nipple, a thumb can be appropriate. My concern is not for the thumb itself,
but for whether the parent can comfortably position it in the baby's mouth.
Whatever works, right?

Lisa Marasco, BA, IBCLC

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