Grandparents Raising Children Support Group

This community is dedicated to grandparents who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. In cases where the parents are not willing or able to provide adequate care for their children, grandparents may take on the role of primary caregivers. Join the support group to find support, share your experience, and get advice from other members.

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SaraBT 07/07/2009

I've always been curious about something, and can't find any statistics online, so I thought I'd ask you all, since most of us seem to be dealing with addicted sons and daughters.

Here goes: Did your addict children suck their thumbs when they were little? And did your non-addict children not suck their thumbs?

The reason I ask is that of three children, only my husband's daughter was a thumb-sucker (she still is when she sleeps -- at 32!!!!!). My two girl grandchildren suck their thumbs, but their brother doesn't.

It's a correlation I wonder about, since thumb-sucking is an addiction of sorts.

deleted_user 07/07/2009

the dd never sucked her thumb but the gd does.

deleted_user 07/07/2009

None of mine were thumb suckers and none are addicts, but the mom of the gd I am raising was a pacie sucker until she was 3.

deleted_user 07/07/2009

My kids were not thumb suckers and I and only one of the three gkids are, the youngest is almost 4 and not a thumb suck but the first two finger sucker. I don't know for sure but don't think either parent was or is an addict.

deleted_user 07/08/2009

I personally was a thumb sucker for a long time. I am not an addict. My parents did divorce when I was only two and I think that might have been some of my reason to thumb suck. It is comforting. I sucked my thumb until I was around 9 or 10. I had a favorite pillow I liked to have when I sucked my thumb. Mom threw the pillow away and I quit sucking my thumb. I also had a cousin who sucked her thumb so hard, she got buck (sp) teeth. She was never a drug addict. My dd the drug addict never sucked her thumb or used a pacifier.

deleted_user 07/08/2009

Isnt sucking part of a childs normal develpment? and if they don't get enough say through breastfeeding or bottle then they suck thumbs or pacifiers?

My dd was breastfeed and never sucked her thumb. I have no clue if she is on drugs. Her father was a drug addict and alcoholism runs rampant in my family ( greatgrandfather ect) so she could be easy enough I think. Have my suspisions she might be drinking.

I dont know...

SaraBT 07/08/2009

I guess that's an indication that there is no correlation. It's funny that nobody seems to have done a formal study on it, though :-)

deleted_user 07/08/2009

My finger sucker was born with her fingers in her mouth. LOL LOL

Kat51 07/08/2009

I sucked my thumb, as did my oldest daugher, and neither of us are addicts. Youngest daughter did not suck her thumb and she is bi-polar and not really an addict, but has problems with using alcohol when she goes off her meds.

deleted_user 07/08/2009

5 kids, no thumb suckers, 1 addict/alcoholic.

GMaWilli 07/08/2009

My heroin addicted son was very attached to his pacifier. His dad, who was an alcoholic, took it from him when he was about 18 months old and he started biting his fingernails not long after that. My daughter, who in my opinion also has addiction issues, sucked her fingers until she was 6. I sucked my thumb until I was 6, but have never had any issues with drugs or alcohol.

candsmom 07/08/2009

Bio dd never sucked her thumb. I on the other hand did and do not have a addictive personality.

deleted_user 07/09/2009

My grand daughter will be 3 next month...she only puts her thumb in her mouth and twirls her hair with the other hand when she is tired...she has done this since birth. I don't believe thumb sucking is an addiction...it's just something they do for comfort...some children prefer pacifiers some prefer their thumbs.

deleted_user 07/09/2009

no thumb suckers here...I will tell you that I have a cousin that is an addict and he has always been a thumb sucker and still is at 39.

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