I've breastfed all three of my c...

I've breastfed all three of my children and none of them have thumbsucked.

I was bottlefed and sucked my thumb until I was around six years old.

Why am I telling you this?

Well I read an interesting article today stating that

“There is a widespread belief among child specialists that sucking is an instinct — an automatic habit borne out of the necessity for breastfeeding especially in toddlers and very young children...”(Dr Rais Ahmed, specialist paediatrician at Medcare Hospital.)

The article went on to state that research shows that babies who are breastfed are less likely to thumbsuck than babies who aren't. And furthermore, of those breastfed babies who do suck their thumbs, babies who are breastfed every three hours are also less avid thumbsuckers than those fed every three hours!

Funnily enough, it was only after I stopped breastfeeding that my children showed signs they were missing the comfort they had become accustomed to. Since stopping breastfeeding my son has taken to sucking on his fingers when he is tired; one of my daughters sucked on her arm and the other grew very dependent on her soother (the other two absolutely refused soothers full stop!)

I'd be interested to hear your stories on this topic.