Does dummy/thumb sucking deserve the bad rap? with Speech Pathologist, Jess

In our 179th episode of Beyond the Bump, we chat to Jess. Jess is a speech pathologist and we chat to her all about thumb sucking and dummy use. This can be a pretty heated topic where parents have so many questions like, ‘what damage am I causing?’ versus ‘I need to use this to survive!’ Dummy versus thumb sucking. Is one better than the other? Is there anything we can do to encourage thumb sucking? Or are some kids just into it and others aren’t? Conversely, should we discourage thumb sucking and use a dummy instead? What are the main concerns with thumb/finger sucking? How would we go about weaning thumb/finger sucking? And how do we do it at night? Everyone seems to be getting braces when they’re older nowadays, so why does it matter if our bubs move their teeth around with their thumbs? What can we do if their thumbs keep getting blistered and sore? Dummies — do they deserve the bad rap that they get? What are the pros and cons of dummies? When should we introduce the dummy? Do dummies reduce the risk of SIDS? If our bubs are less than one year old, what is the best way to wean a dummy? How often are we supposed to be replacing and/or sterilising dummies?  And SO MUCH MORE!!!   Beyond the Bump is a podcast brought to you by Jayde Couldwell and Sophie Pearce! A podcast targeted at mums, just like you! A place to have real conversations with honest and authentic people.   Follow us on Instagram at @beyondthebump.podcast to stay up to date with behind the scenes and future episodes.