Comments on: Finger-Sucking in Preschoolers http://babyshrink.com/2008/06/finger-sucking.html Child and parent development by licensed psychologist, Dr. Heather. Thu, 10 May 2012 19:00:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Scrapella http://babyshrink.com/2008/06/finger-sucking.html/comment-page-1#comment-425 Scrapella Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:03:17 +0000 http://babyshrink.com/2008/06/finger-sucking-in-preschoolers.html#comment-425 My 4-year-old daughter still sucks her thumb; I sucked mine as a kid, too, for way too long. What finally convinced me to stop? Myself. I had to decide I wanted to quit. I have asked my daughter to stop, but after reading this post, maybe it's time to drop the subject. My 4-year-old daughter still sucks her thumb; I sucked mine as a kid, too, for way too long. What finally convinced me to stop? Myself. I had to decide I wanted to quit. I have asked my daughter to stop, but after reading this post, maybe it’s time to drop the subject.

]]> By: Katie Kat http://babyshrink.com/2008/06/finger-sucking.html/comment-page-1#comment-424 Katie Kat Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:56:10 +0000 http://babyshrink.com/2008/06/finger-sucking-in-preschoolers.html#comment-424 One of the best things I've learned about from you, Heather, is how to sort of "deal with" these independent ANNOYING things from the perspective of the child's world. Just like you say, they have so little control over ANYTHING. And if I were in my 2 year old's shoes, I'd be going nuts! I'm a total control freak, so I can sympathize and also let enough of it go so that not only will B be happy, but I'M learning to not be so overly controlling. It's a nice side benefit and I think it can really help parents loosen up a bit. It's hard not to think that every single weird thing or bad habit your child is picking up on right now isn't somehow harmful. Of course, some of them are, but knowing what is psychologically not going to stick with them (or which ones garner more psychological pain to FIX than to just let go) is wonderfully helpful! One of the best things I’ve learned about from you, Heather, is how to sort of “deal with” these independent ANNOYING things from the perspective of the child’s world. Just like you say, they have so little control over ANYTHING. And if I were in my 2 year old’s shoes, I’d be going nuts! I’m a total control freak, so I can sympathize and also let enough of it go so that not only will B be happy, but I’M learning to not be so overly controlling. It’s a nice side benefit and I think it can really help parents loosen up a bit.

It’s hard not to think that every single weird thing or bad habit your child is picking up on right now isn’t somehow harmful. Of course, some of them are, but knowing what is psychologically not going to stick with them (or which ones garner more psychological pain to FIX than to just let go) is wonderfully helpful!

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