Maybe if our culture practiced things like co-sleeping and baby wearing, infants would be less dependent on sucking their thumbs or cuddling security objects.
Babies should not be encouraged to suck their thumb as this fosters dependence. If a baby doesn't need to suck his thumb to calm himself, then he doesn't need to be taught how to do such a thing.
Conversely, if a child still sucks their thumb at a higher age than normal, it is not necissarily a cause for concern, unless of course they are being abused or neglected. If they are succeeding normally in other areas of their lives, such as socially, do not be concerned. You might want to instruct them to suck the tip of it to avoid damage to teeth, but otherwise there's nothing about the child's advanced thumbsucking to be alarmed about.
In fact, there are even normal, well-adjusted teenagers and adults who still suck their thumbs.
There are also many teenagers and even adults who still sleep with security objects: not for means of self-comfort, but merely because they are familiar, well-loved items that connect them to their past.
And no, Brazleton and all the other ignoramuses out there, baby wearing and co-sleeping don't hamper a child's ability to become independent at nursery school or kindergarten. In fact, these techniques (when practiced properly) give children a greater sense of independence because a foundation of confidence in mom and dad has been established. The child knows his parents care for him and will be there when he returns, so he is more confident to go out and try new things.
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