Thumb ****ing...Help Please

[Holiday Park]

Than how do you prevent them from spreading ther sick getms if the child has a cold/sneezing/runnynise ad is not only wiping the snot with hands but touching things in between ****ing b fingers while sick? I have a strict illness policy but colds don't cause a child to be excluded. However, wiping spit fingers on everything after ****ing on them is just spreading the germs directly.

[Willow]

Than how do you prevent them from spreading ther sick getms if the child has a cold/sneezing/runnynise ad is not only wiping the snot with hands but touching things in between ****ing b fingers while sick? I have a strict illness policy but colds don't cause a child to be excluded. However, wiping spit fingers on everything after ****ing on them is just spreading the germs directly.

I'm not sure why you think kids that *don't* **** their thumbs never stick their fingers or other things in their mouths?


If you exclude or term for thumb ****ing when a child is sick claiming they introduce more germs into the environment then you should also technically exclude or term any child who puts any toys into their mouth.

I'd say good luck with that if you ever watch any child under the age of 3.

Mouth germs on thumb and then a child touching other toys compared to mouth germs on toys when they're put directly in the mouth - there is absolutely no difference.

[Holiday Park]

Very Good point about touching stuff wet spity fingers being the same as a baby mouthing stuff. The dfference to me is when they are *sick* with snot noses and doing that. I'm going to just take my chances and see how it goes. I have never had my own baby while doing childcare at the same time . My three older school age kids were all past this age&stage and so being in school , were not exposed in the same way. Its all good. Im not terminating care with anyone unless someone starts coming with constant colds ALL the time(meaning every week) or something.

[frugalmama4]

Did I ask the wrong question???

Well hear me out, the thumb ****ing is not my only issue with this kid. This is the second week of care...so we're still getting to know each other. He's not a good eater "doesn't like eating off the spoon" use to eating a full bottle with cereal". I personal don't think a 9mo should have cereal in the bottle..just my two cents on that. So I'm working with him to get use to being spoon fed and bottles only for formula.

Also, in order for my program/home/business to run the way I need it to...all kids have to self sooth...I'm sorry if this makes anyone mad...but I'm only one person with two hands...I can not and will not rock/hold/pat every kid to sleep...that's just crazy. And yes I have my old kid home with me, who must self sooth to sleep as well.

I'm not thinking of terming this family...so far everything has been good. I just have never dealt with thumb ****ing and needed to know if their could be any health, social issues to come form this nasty habit.

Thx yall

[sharlan]

My first daycare girl ****ed her thumb until she was 7. Her dentist put a device (tongue thrust?) on the roof of her mouth that was supposed to make it uncomfortable to **** her thumb. She learned to work around it. She eventually stopped on her own. She was the least sick of all my kids. She didn't get the chicken pox, hand foot and mouth, or the colds that my other kids got.

Her baby ****s her thumb, too.

At 9 mos, I wouldn't worry about it. I think it's more natural than a pacifier.

[sharlan]

I would be more concerned about the cereal in the bottle. Mom probably does it because it's easier for her.

[Willow]

Did I ask the wrong question???

Well hear me out, the thumb ****ing is not my only issue with this kid. This is the second week of care...so we're still getting to know each other. He's not a good eater "doesn't like eating off the spoon" use to eating a full bottle with cereal". I personal don't think a 9mo should have cereal in the bottle..just my two cents on that. So I'm working with him to get use to being spoon fed and bottles only for formula.

Also, in order for my program/home/business to run the way I need it to...all kids have to self sooth...I'm sorry if this makes anyone mad...but I'm only one person with two hands...I can not and will not rock/hold/pat every kid to sleep...that's just crazy. And yes I have my old kid home with me, who must self sooth to sleep as well.

I'm not thinking of terming this family...so far everything has been good. I just have never dealt with thumb ****ing and needed to know if their could be any health, social issues to come form this nasty habit.

Thx yall

I really wouldn't worry about the thumb ****ing. Babies have been doing it since the beginning of time and no one is ever worse for wear for it....unless you try to stop it, then you'll likely be inviting the fight of your life you have no chance of winning .

As for the cereal in the bottle bit have you asked mom if there is a reason for it? Perhaps the baby's tongue thrust reflex still hasn't tapered off (rare, but still a possibility), maybe he's tongue tied and struggles with manipulating, or has a stronger gag reflex, heck, I've even heard of opting to feed cereal in a bottle for those with reflux because with straight cereal they swallow more air and that irritates the belly. There could be lots of reasons why it might be entirely necessary at this point with this child even if upon first glance it seems silly.

There's also the possibility that she just doesn't know a baby can eat off a spoon at that age? Lots of first time parents perceive early struggle with solids with a baby "not liking" them when it's just a matter of practice makes perfect.

If you are on a food program spoon feeding solids might be required by 9 months so make sure you check on that. If it is, and there is a good reason why he can't ask mom to get a dietary statement from the child's pediatrician.

Keep in mind it's common practice elsewhere in the world to only breastfeed or formula feed through the entire first year. Pushing solids so early here in the United States is definitely a cultural thing.

Can be frustrating but exploring all explanations of why the parents might be delaying could be helpful for you to gain some understanding.

[frugalmama4]

I really wouldn't worry about the thumb ****ing. Babies have been doing it since the beginning of time and no one is ever worse for wear for it....unless you try to stop it, then you'll likely be inviting the fight of your life you have no chance of winning .

As for the cereal in the bottle bit have you asked mom if there is a reason for it? Perhaps the baby's tongue thrust reflex still hasn't tapered off (rare, but still a possibility), maybe he's tongue tied and struggles with manipulating, or has a stronger gag reflex, heck, I've even heard of opting to feed cereal in a bottle for those with reflux because with straight cereal they swallow more air and that irritates the belly. There could be lots of reasons why it might be entirely necessary at this point with this child even if upon first glance it seems silly.

There's also the possibility that she just doesn't know a baby can eat off a spoon at that age? Lots of first time parents perceive early struggle with solids with a baby "not liking" them when it's just a matter of practice makes perfect.

If you are on a food program spoon feeding solids might be required by 9 months so make sure you check on that. If it is, and there is a good reason why he can't ask mom to get a dietary statement from the child's pediatrician.

Keep in mind it's common practice elsewhere in the world to only breastfeed or formula feed through the entire first year. Pushing solids so early here in the United States is definitely a cultural thing.

Can be frustrating but exploring all explanations of why the parents might be delaying could be helpful for you to gain some understanding.

I total agree it could be other issues with this baby. So far from what I have observed its just the easy route to put the cereal in the bottle. This is mom second baby...so nope to the first time baby blues. He eats find off the spoon...its just he's not an inserted/invested eater "has to be coast to eat"would rather his bottle over the spoon. As far as the thumb ****ing...I understand at this age its not really a problem...but in my opinion why wait until it could be a big problem...stop the habit now. Just my two cents....

Thanks for the feed back.

[mema]

I have a thumb ****er-she's 3. She use to have it in her mouth all the time, now it's just at rest time. Her sister-10-****s hers all the time. All day, everyday. On a side note, my bil is 36 and still ****s his thumb. It is funny to watch. He'll be watching baseball and all the sudden he goes from drinking his beer to ****ing his thumb::. His buddies have a hay day with it!

[Patches]

My own son still ****s his thumb and he's 5. He started when he was 6 months right after I stop nursing him and I tried to give him a pacifier but he wouldn't take it. Anyway, as he gets older he is doing it less and less. Now he only does it when he's tired and trying to go to sleep so I'm hoping he outgrows it soon

[theycallmetaytor]

One of my dcp is a friend...she's 25 and still ****s her thumb. Gross! I am so glad her daughter doesn't do it too!

[Mamaski210]

thumb ****ing

Yuu can check out Thumbuddy To Love to help stop thumb ****ing. Kids love it and a good age to break the habit is around age 3. Google Thumbuddy To Love.