Both of my girls were thumb suckers. And I probably let them keep the habit a bit too long. Tori was 5 when she quit (at the urging of our dentist), but we didn’t have Ally quit until she was 7. (The dentist couldn’t tell she sucked her thumb, so I figured no harm, no foul.) Each girl had a lovey that she would hold while sucking her thumb. After the age of 3, loveys had to stay in bed, so the girls only sucked their thumbs when in bed. Nevertheless, it was a habit they had to kick. To help them stop, we would place a band aid on their thumb at night as a reminder to keep it out of their mouth. We kept a goal chart, and they worked toward rewards. After 30 thumb-free nights, each got a big treat to celebrate successfully kicking the thumb sucking habit. If you have a thumb sucker or a little one that uses a pacifier and it’s time to give it up, check out Judy Goppert’s article. And good luck! Even though it’s tough, you’ll get through it!
With this issue, we focus on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I am fortunate that neither of my girls had to spend time in the NICU and always turn to writers who have had NICU experiences to compose articles about what to expect, how to help and to offer tips and encouragement. Although I knew that Olathe writer and mom Sarah Lyon’s triplets were in the NICU, it never registered before that they were in two different hospitals at the same time. Wow! As her triplets are now 7, her NICU days are in the rearview mirror, but she is able to write beautifully and share many thoughtful and meaningful tips for parents dealing with a NICU situation.
Enjoy fall, Kansas City!