Finger binding in East Dulwich

[Axeman]

Hello,

I'm not really sure how explain what I saw this morning, but something tells me, as a parent, that it's abhorrently wrong and completely unacceptable in western culture.

I was on the 185 this morning travelling into town, when a young mother - mid 30s - boarded the bus and stood next to me. I didn't notice at first, but when I looked at the child in the buggy, my attention was immediately drawn to it's fingers; which were bound in a ribbon or lace like material.

I couldn't quite decide what to make of it at first, as I naturally assumed that the child must have suffered some kind of injury to their fingers. But after some further thought on the matter, I concluded that if the child had suffered an injury to their fingers, then they would be bound by bandages.

Without trying to arouse any suspicion, I asked the mother what the purpose of the binding was. At first I thought she would be rather guarded about answering the questions of a stranger that concerned her child. But no, she was quite happy to share. It turns out that she and her husband are friends of a family who have returned from some kind of extended holiday in central Asia. And during their travels, they came into contact with nomads that practiced Shamanism.

It turns out, that in this region of Asia, to prevent small children from sucking their fingers and thumbs, they bind their fingers in sterilized linen.

She also went on to say that she wasn't the only mother to use this preventative measure in East Dulwich and its environs.

I wasn't about to start lecturing her on how to be a parent, but something inside my said that this was wrong.

So, that's why I'm recounting this on here. Is it illegal, but more importantly, does it cause lasting damage?

Either way, the child looked rather glum.

[womanofdulwich]

how old was the child?

[sophiechristophy]

am I the only one who doesn't understand why people are bothered if their child sucks their fingers or thumb? why do people try to discourage it a all?

[Pickle]

I would much prefer it if my 3.5 year old sucked his fingers or thumb, rather than the horrible stinky soft toy that he opted for from a young age!

Wouldn't they still be able to suck their fingers, albeit through the binding?

[felt-tip]

I'd move any mountain to stop my kid sucking his thumb. Even Shamanism.

[Moos]

For those of you that didn't catch Axeman's last thread, this one in the Lounge:

Has cheese bridged the class divide

Not suggesting anyone shouldn't discuss thumb-sucking if they like, but please be aware that the 'finger binding' is almost certainly an invented occurrence.

[Mellors]

I am thinking of resorting to chopping my children's thumbs off, in manner of docking a puppies tail. Is this acceptable in East Dulwich? Or do I need to move to Honor Oak?

[The Nappy Lady]

I think we should all strap our childrens arms down to their bodies and leave them in their cots all day, it would make life SO much easier don't you think?

[womanofdulwich]

I think sucking your thumb can distort how your teeth grow- leading to braces later. I think that is why some people like dummies?

[Pickle]

Aha, I hadn't seen Axeman's other post. Molly, I was thinking along the lines of "whole body binding" too, could be a winner. Maybe with some "I love ED/Peckham" branding?

[candj]

And how are the below any different than finger binding?

thumb guard - sold in the UK too

Both mine used dummies and it was easy to take away when the time came. I too sucked my thumb when I was young and my mum used chilli oil to get me to stop. I'm not scarred, but I do love chillies.

[Axeman]

What a horrible, unfounded accusation. I go out of my way to inform you all of the possibility that a child is the being used as a guinea pig for a what could be an irreparable experiment, and you brush it off as fantasy. Did it ever occur to you that my first thread was perhaps written by a less well meaning soul, such as a teenage son who accessed my account?

And to think that some of you call yourselves 'mothers'. Honestly, I genuinely pity any children under your care.

[Axeman]

About a year old. Give-or-take a month.

[Saffron]

Yes, there are idiots everywhere... even here in ED.

[Narnia]

The Nappy Lady Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think we should all strap our childrens arms

> down to their bodies and leave them in their cots

> all day, it would make life SO much easier don't

> you think?

Nice to see some humour in here. It's usually very serious I think. As for Axeman...........ignore him.

[Narnia]

womanofdulwich Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think sucking your thumb can distort how your

> teeth grow- leading to braces later. I think that

> is why some people like dummies?

I can't be sure of how true it is but I know my Dad who was a dentist said it was dummies that distorted teeth.

[candj]

They now have orthodontic dummies Narnia which means that the shape of them is slightly different than a regular dummy. The neck part of the dummy is very thin so that the teeth aren't pushed out, but rather have a better chance of meeting together. Still would probably affect the teeth if used for a long time though.

[huncamunca]

this is akin to child abuse. Nutters.