Another question I get asked a lot, is whether it’s better for a baby to suck their thumb or a dummy.
As mentioned earlier, my second son was a committed thumb sucker! Only one of mine used a dummy briefly so personally, 3/4 of mine have not needed a dummy or their thumb to fall asleep.
👍 Thumb Sucking:
* Pros: Always available, no need to wash, comforting and natural.
* Cons: Harder to control. If your child continues beyond age 4–5, it can affect teeth alignment, speech, and jaw development.
🧸 Dummy:
* Pros: Easier to wean your child off. Often recommended for reducing the risk of SIDS in babies under 6 months. Can be replaced or sanitized.
* Cons: Can interfere with breastfeeding if introduced too early. Can get lost or dirty, and prolonged use may also affect teeth if not stopped by age 2–3.
Nights with Nat top tips:
1. If using a dummy, remove it at nap/bedtime transitions after 1–2 years.
2. Thumb sucking may naturally reduce as your child grows and finds other ways to self-soothe.
3. Observe your child’s teeth and jaw development—dentists often provide early guidance if habits persist.
The bottom line is that neither is “perfect,” but dummies are generally easier to control and wean than thumb sucking. From a professional point of view, I don’t think I have had a 1:1 client struggling with their baby’s sleep who sucks their thumb but I get a LOT of clients with dummies and sleep issues!
Gentle encouragement and consistency are the keys to helping your child transition away from either habit when the time is right.
