Which is of a lesser evil? thumb sucking or sucking on pacificer? my son (3mths old) has a tendency to suck his thumbs.. so whenever he does so, I will let him suck on the pacificer instead..

Babies have natural sucking and rooting reflexes as a way to soothe themselves or feel secure. And when they’re not nursing or bottle feeding, they tend to turn to their thumb or pacifier. Since you’re wondering which is worse - thumb sucking or the use of pacifier - let’s list down some of the pros and cons of each. Pacifier Pros - it may lower the baby’s risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) - it can help your baby fall asleep- once you decide to wean your baby off the pacifier, you can simply throw it away, whereas a thumb is not as disposable - it provides a quick distraction during and after shots and other procedures at the clinic - it might help during flights by relieving ear pain caused by a change in air pressure Pacifier Cons - it can increase the risk of middle ear infections - if you lose the pacifier, or pacifier falls out of baby’s mouth, all hell breaks lose as your baby bawls away until you find it - early use might interfere with breastfeeding - prolonged use might cause a misalignment in your child’s teeth or teeth might not come out properly - it takes more maintenance as you have to constantly wash and sterilize a pacifier Thumb sucking Pros - a thumb provides easy access; it doesn’t get lost in the crib at night while baby’s asleep - a thumb is low maintenance; you only need to wash it with soap and water, no need to sterilize - thumb sucking can lead to the development of an overbite, especially if it continues after the permanent teeth have come in - thumbs sucking may lower the risk of developing allergies, according to a New Zealand study published in the journal Pediatrics Thumb sucking Cons - thumbs carry germs that go into your baby’s mouth - prolonged use might cause a misalignment in your child’s teeth or teeth might not come out properly Generally, pacifier use or thumb sucking isn’t going to be a problem as long your baby gives it up before permanent teeth start to develop, which usually happens at around 3 years old. Sources: - http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/pacifiers-or-thumbsucking-which-is-worse - http://www.parents.com/advice/babies/gear/should-my-baby-suck-on-his-thumb-or-a-pacifier/ - http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/pacifiers/art-20048140 - http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/11/health/allergies-thumb-sucking-nail-biting-children/