I agree that many children suck their thumbs not from unmet needs but from a strong oral fixation. My daughter, who will be four in two weeks, is still nursing and whenever she gets bored or tired will suck on her fingers, her clothes, my clothes, or my hair. A majority of these times she is being held and cuddled by me, but just wants something in her mouth. I just recently started to curbing her public nursing, but she has been sucking on other things since she was a few months old. It just goes to show that children will find the way that satisifies their needs the way they want satisified, not the way that makes us look good! Felicia Henry, AAHCC & LLLL