Finger Sucking 12 Month Old

You can't really do anything about her not wanting a pacifier now, but it seems like the fingers are here to stay. She has already developed this habit and it is soothing to her. Just like a thumb sucker, she probably sucks her fingers for comfort and it relaxes her. My Dr. always joked to us that a binki can be taken away when need be, but fingers are there forever! Since you are not fond of the binki idea, I think that you'll just have to except that she may suck on her fingers for a long time...until she might be embarrassed of it. I see little kindergarteners sucking their thumbs in line when I bring my daughter to school. It happens! Have you thought about introducing a special cuddle or a blankie to make her feel more secure. My son had a binkie until he was 2.5, and then needed his blankie, but that doesn't leave the house. So, If we do go somewhere that he is not to sure about, he always brings his stuffed tiger. It's all about the security and self soothing!

My only advice is to be careful how much pressure you put on her to stop. I know I was a thumb sucker when I was younger and the more my parents tried to get me to stop, the more I needed that comfort. A one year old is awful young to start worrying about that too in my opinion. I'm sure your friend means well, but we are talking about a baby here. She gets comfort from the fingers. My second daughter sucked her fingers until about 5 years old, then she just stopped on her own. If you really want to get her to stop, I would suggest waiting until she old enough to understand a reward system. "If you go for a whole week without sucking your fingers, we'll take you to McDonald's" kind of rewards usually help. Good luck!

Having been a thumbsucker for 11 or 12 years, and speaking to MANY adults who had the same habit just as long, my advice would be whatever you can do to get her stop - whatever her currency is, whether it be candy, parties, money, cake, video games, etc (obviously as she gets older), but expect it to continue not matter what you do until she's ready to give it up. I only quit because I got braces and it was too uncomfortable - I sucked it right through the initial retainer though. Finally.....start saving for braces!

Good luck!

M.,
I have three children. The first one took to a pacifier and yes it is easier to get rid of a pacifier than a thumb or a finger. My second child found her thumb. At about 6 years old, the dentist put a metal cage in her mouth. He told me that breaking the skin to skin contact of her thumb and the roof of her mouth would break the habit. She had it for 6 - 9 months, and has never gone back to sucking her thumb. She is now 13. My son was a finger sucker, and stopped on his own at about five. If he hadn't, I would have tried the cage again. Talk to your dentist and see what he recommends.