The Thumb-Sucker Strikes Gold
Oct 20, 2009 | Filed Under: Candy's Column,Featured,Musings
From the moment we saw Miss Skye’s 3D ultrasounds, we knew she was a finger sucker. “Oooohhh, your brother was a thumbsucker,” my mom exclaimed when she saw the pictures. “And he was SUCH a good baby. [PAUSE] Unlike you and your sister. You girls were awful!”
Despite warnings from some that thumb-sucking leads to buck teeth, raw skin, a bacteria-infested mouth and really awkward job interviews if not stopped at an appropriate age, Mr. Candy and I immediately hopped on the thumb-sucking bandwagon in hopes of having a quiet, self-soothing baby. Let’s face it: A good night’s rest for mommy and daddy trumps a clean mouth for baby. And her skin can always grow back.
Once Miss Skye left her cozy womb, however, she had a tougher time locating that tasty thumb. And the older she got, the more pissed she would get that it did not automatically enter her mouth. Oh, how she would grunt and stick her entire fist in her mouth and grunt some more! Much like I get when I’m in the living room and the ice cream sandwiches are all the way in the kitchen.
So close, yet so far away. *GRUNT*
Last week in her bassinet, however, she finally did it. She finally struck gold. And she made sure everyone knew she’d finally made her thumb her bitch, because even our international neighbors could hear her sucking away on that thing. Again, much like me and my ice cream sandwiches.
I’m thinking of taking that thumb out for a beer because it has been a lifesaver. Oh yes, it has been. While we’ve been visiting my parents, she has slept through the night EVERY SINGLE NIGHT despite the time change. I hear her stir in the Pack ‘N’ Play. Uh-oh. Then… *SLURP!* *SLURP!* *SLURP!* Soooo sweet.
It’s not like she’d ace those job interviews, anyway. Hell, not with those epically bad buck teeth she’ll have!
Cowgirl in the Sand
says:
Congrats to Skye! Our baby S has found her thumb too, and it looks (and sounds) very much like Skye’s discovery (http://raisinghill.blogspot.com/2009/10/found-my-thumb_19.html). Wonderful wonderful thumb. Our son sucks his two middle fingers and it’s been SUCH a blessing, despite the current callouses on his knuckles and the braces in our future. The self-soothing is totally worth it.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:37 pm -Mama2000
says:
Awesome news! You are so lucky. My little one (a week younger than Skye) is still looking for hers.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:57 pm -Cowgirl in the Sand
says:
Just realized that link isn’t going to work b/c it includes the parentheses in the URL. If you’d like to see our S in the same thumb-sucking, eye-poking pose (mirror image), here’s a link that will work:
http://raisinghill.blogspot.com/2009/10/found-my-thumb_19.html
October 21st, 2009 at 2:10 pm -Candy
says:
Wow. That IS a mirror image, Cowgirl! Woo-hoo for Baby S and S.
Mama2000 — may yours strike gold soon! Truly is a lifesaver.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:35 pm -Jenn F.
says:
That is so funny! Congrats on getting some entire nights of sleep.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:36 pm -Peta
says:
As long as she stops before age 9, you have nothing to worry about.
Yea…nothing like being in 4th grade and seeing your early-bloomer classmate sucking on her thumb like an overgrown baby.
October 27th, 2009 at 2:17 pm -