Help with toddler habit

Hi there. So my son (who just turned 3 and has a twin sister) has a little habit and I am wondering what, if anything to do about it.

From the time he was maybe around 9 months (can’t really remember exactly when this started but pretty early on) to now, he always had to wrap my shirt around his thumb and make it touch his lip to fall asleep. Btw i have been co sleeping with his sister since birth and with him occasionally until he hit 18 months and then he wanted to sleep with me too.

The thing is, for the past couple months, he has been holding his own shirt to his lip numerous times during the day. It used to be just a sleep thing but now it seems like it is all the time. Even when going out he does it which usually means his stomach is exposed so I am having to make him wear a 2nd layer.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get him to stop doing this? Or should i let him just grow out of it? I am thinking its kind of like a thumb sucking thing like he is doing it for comfort?

I have asked him why he does it and says “I need to”. Aww.

Re: Help with toddler habit

Aaaw, maybe he'll grow out of it. My twins are 2 and they do some weird attachment things sometimes, but its always changing and they grow out of it. Or get him a blanky so his belly is not exposed?

Re: Help with toddler habit

My son is about 14 months now...has been an enthusiastic thumb sucker since day 1 and will probably continue to.

Its a comfort thing I think...I plan on making him stop if its still there at age 3.

Re: Help with toddler habit

Try to get him to stop. I don't have any advice how though. Habits like these can cause problems with teeth

Re: Help with toddler habit

Similar situation here, one of my girls uses a pacifier, and for the last two days she has coped without it, although she can be like a drug addict having withdrawal symptoms. She is using any teddy bear or toy for comfort instead.
She lost her originl one, and her daycare lady gave her a diferent shaped one that she doesn't like. So that started it off

Re: Help with toddler habit

Why not start tucking in his shirt to make it less accessible? Or even use a belt or those cute kid suspenders so he literally can't get to it too easily.

Re: Help with toddler habit

I don't know if I would do anything to curb this habit as yet. He's still little and probably going to go through some anxieties as he grows more and more confident.
Does the habit cause any problems other than expose his belly or cause you to have him in double layers?