My baby is 5 month old, he started to suck his thumb vigorously this week and developed a red patch with thicker skin on his thumbs. I am very concerned and worry!  Is this normal for all thumb sucking babies? Should I continue to let him suck his thumb?  I started to give him a pacifier but should I keep doing? I am worry I am too late to introduce him a pacifier and may encourage him a sucking habit that hard to get rid of late on.  When do babies usually stop sucking thumb or pacifier? Please share your experience/advice. Very much appreciated!  

Hi Syn, well I have a thumb sucker on my hands, she is 2 1/2 years old now and unfortunatley still sucks her thumb.... She started at 3 months old and got that same red patch on her thumb as you are describing, it never became a big deal or anything.   I tried to discourge her from sucking it at first, I would put a pacifier in her mouth every time I saw her sucking her thumb but alas, I lost the battle because she would spit it out and put the thumb right back in....She only does it now when she is tired and stressed, but I do feel for you, most people I talk to say you can't really do much, they have to give it up on their own.  One bright side is, they can always soothe themselves, because the thumb is always there? lol.