Thumb sucking is very common phenomena among babies and they start doing it even before their birth as there are pictures taken of fetuses sucking their thumbs in utero.
Babies use sucking to calm and settle themselves. However, as I have said earlier, thumb sucking has its own advantages over a pacifier as they don’t fall on the floor so there is no question of hygiene and also that its under the baby’s own control.
Generally, children give up thumb sucking as they attain the age of 4 or 5. Very often, they suck their thumb during nighttime when they experience too much stress or loneliness.
Although, the sucking of thumb or pacifier may affect her dental development but it would be futile on your part to restrict her habit. It would only add to pointless struggle and frustration for both of you.
However, if you choose to restrict her access to a pacifier, help her find her thumb, or offer her a blanket or a soft toy to comfort herself instead. With the passage of time, the tot would leave the habit in her own sweet way.
