I'm sure I'll hear plenty of differing opinions. I might even hear from an orthodontist or two. Could be I'll hear from a parent who swears their child has a deformed jaw from over-sucking something. Ya know what? I think if kids are going to have a malformed jaw or crooked teeth, they're going to have these problems whether or not they suck a thumb or pacifier. The way I see it is that both my daughters’ father and myself had teeth that needed a lot of correction. Our kids were naturally prone to crooked teeth and would need orthodontia anyway. They both do, by way and would have needed it with or without help.

I'm a softy. I give my kids way too much leeway when it comes to enforcing certain behavioral rules. I have a hard time telling my girls that I know better when, in fact, I'm not really sure on a particular issue. They are getting away with murder, I suspect! But, seriously, I have a harder time denying them something I feel is basically harmless and will go away on its own. Much same as my philosophy on potty training, or not potty training as is my belief. Let them alone. Let them cling to little things. Let them have an inch of comfort in an uncomfortable world and an ounce of power in a powerless existence. And if your child doesn't suck something from infancy on, consider yourself lucky! ;-)

While stuttering and stammering are part of learning to speak, some children do have a neurological or physiological predisposition to obvious stuttering and can be helped to overcome sometimes debilitating effects of this condition. Parents who feel their child has a real stuttering problem would do well to find help for them as soon as possible. Early intervention and speech therapy has helped many children overcome their stuttering altogether or can help them manage condition. There has been considerable progress in language development in recent years and extensive help is available for children and adults with various communication issues.

What experts have learned and agreed upon over years is that positive reinforcement is still best therapy for children with speech problems ... yet another reason to treat your child with kindness and respect at all times.