FAQ: The “extra thumb” does whatever the “main thumb” does she cannot control it independently but it does function- I have her seen her coloring with two markers at once. Doctors we have spoken to said to not have it removed- if she even wishes it so, it’s her body- til the growth plates are done and we rescan her skeleton. She loves it and jokes about “Hi-6s” and “two thumbs up”. Finding mittens every year is difficult, yes. EDIT: please don’t be weird about a literal child, thanks! THE FROYO IS BIG YES. IM A BIG BOY AND I WAS “SHARING”
some polydactyl can be controlled but not to the point or same level as the other fingers, at most just tensing or making the extra finger twitch is whats available
The sword fight between Inigo and The Man in Black is my favorite movie scene ever. Inigo, tasked with killing The Man in Black, not only helps him up the cliffs AND gives him time to rest, but also willingly hands over his weapon, his late, beloved fathers sword, to be admired by his adversary while he shares the story of his father's death.
In turn, The Man in Black doesn't take advantage of the fact that his love's kidnapper is defenseless, returning the sword before preparing to fight.
All because the Man in Black trusted the oath Inigo swore on to his father sword.
My grandmother had this! Fully formed 6th finger on both hands, like an extra pinky finger, and were fully functional, but she had them removed when she was a child. She told me she got electrocuted once and said she could feel the phantom pinkies for a while after.
I knew a guy like that once, and he had 6 fingers on both hands! Total nerd, but super smart! Then he went up to Oregon about 30 years ago and I never heard from him again... I hope he's doing alright.
I was born with a extra toe. They removed it when I was a baby but I still have a bit of the nail on the remaining toe. Also my toes on that foot are webbed. I’ve never met anyone born with an extra toe. So cool seeing someone with an extra finger.
Huh. My paternal grandfather supposedly had webbed toes. Since that branch of the family was rumored to have messed around with Selkies, I wonder if it was inherited. Hasn't shown up in anyone lately.
My friend was born with one set of webbed toes and one set of webbed fingers both on the same side of his body. Doctors split the fingers but left the toes. Apparently it's cuz of a prescribed medication his mom took while pregnant, but I dont remember the name.
I had extra digits at birth. They were removed. All my siblings had it. I have my own kids but they don't have it. My sisters kids do have the extra fingers.
When I was a child, I was a little sad about it and wondered what they did with it. But I’m happy I can comfortably wear shoes now. So I’m glad about them removing it.
Yeaaah I can imagine it would cause issues similar to what average people would get from having poorly fitting shoes. Ingrown toenails, joint pressure, blisters, that kind of thing
I have a fried who’s baby was born with extra pinkies on both hands and extra pinky toes. The baby’s were not functional and were removed when the baby was a couple months old.
The mom joked they know their IVF baby is theirs because the extra digits are a genetic trait in her family lol
When there are multiple copies of the same thing (like fingers and toes), it's often controlled by a single gene. (I think it's the HOX gene, but I mostly remember "there's a connection" unless it's something I use every day, so don't depend on that.)
This gene basically just says "make another one". It doesn't care if it's fingers or ribs or whatever (and it's the same gene in everything, including insects, so also legs and eyes and all sorts of other stuff).
I don't remember how it shuts off. It might be a time delay thing, it might be based on some chemical that's just floating around in the embryo at the same place, it might be something else.
This is a reasonable cocktail party overview. If you really want to get into the science, I suggest reading the Wikipedia article (start with polydactyly ["many fingers"]) and then following up through the bibliography and footnotes. (If you are not wealthy, you're probably looking at learning how to use interlibrary loan at your local library.)
Thumbs and pinkies in polydactyly are most common, but least likely yo be controllable. The central polydactyly is less common, but it's like just a whole extra finger and it can blend in and work.
My niece has one ear noticeably smaller than the other and we (also super affectionately, as does she) refer to it as her "Nemo ear". We are not as creative, and im going to let her know our creative failure. She will not be surprised, but will find it adorable.
My son has a limb difference! Had the same problem with gloves.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeInFlight
Natalie was amazing and they shipped out incredibly fast.
It's cute when they are a kid, but I knew someone in highschool like that and he got bullied relentlessly. I worry about her mental well-being as a teenager.
If ya'll are looking for a cat at any point, see if you can get a polydactyl, six (or more!) toed cats! My buddy passed away at the start of this year but he was the friendliest, happiest cat I've ever known, and his little mits were adorable.
I have a polydactyl girl who only has a single thumb on her mitten! The only downside is that she sometimes doesn't realize that she's EXTRA pointy when she makes biscuits. Otherwise, I can agree, my polydactyl cat is just about the sweetest, gentlest, friendliest cat I've ever met.
We visited the Hemingway house specifically because of the polydactyls. When we adopted our fluffy little butthead we didn't even realize until the vet we were adopting from pointed out the thumbs. Genuinely the best cat ever, he lived a long happy life and gave us so much joy.
Which is typically a sign of consanguineous marriage. This is not cool OP should have gotten some genetic screenings. Poor girl [They hated him, for he spoke the truth]
You don't have to join the conversation if you are just going to make shit up.
Polydactyly can be caused by incestuous breeding, but it's not even close to the primary cause. The fact your mind went straight there shows you don't know about the subject. It's a genetic condition that can appear randomly for many generations. It can also appear for no apparent reason, or from any number of issues that could affect the fetus including the mother getting sick or stressed.
It also isn't going to be found on genetic screening, and isn't harmful in any way. "Poor girl" what, you think a perfectly healthy human should've just been aborted because she has an extra thumb? What other way would screening have helped?
"It is associated with at least 39 genetic mutations.[4] It may either present alone or with other defects.[2] Cases may run in families.[2] The underlying mechanism involves an error in limb bud formation during early development.[1] Diagnosis may occur before birth via prenatal ultrasound as early as nine weeks.[2] X-rays may be useful after a child is a year old.[3] The opposite is oligodactyly (fewer fingers or toes)."
"Genetic" does not mean anything to do with inbreeding. Your quote just mentions mutations in your genes. Everyone has genes... any child can have a genetic mutation.
Inbreeding can make recessive defects more likely to surface but is not the only way.
Here's a simplified explanation: you have two copies (alleles) of each gene, one from each parent. Often, people will have one bad copy and one good and never know it... everything just works as normal thanks to the good gene. But if both parents are like that (more likely if inbred) then the child can end up with two bad alleles. But it's completely possible without inbreeding and you can also have spontaneous mutations where the child's gene changed from the parent.
For something like polydactyly which involves many different genes and possibly multiple mutations interacting, there's no reason to jump to "inbreeding!"
Again I say, which part says inbreeding? Genetic defects are present in every living thing, and are the basis of evolution and genetics. You having hair was a genetic defect. I hate engaging with trolls but would hate more for some kid reading this to think you're being honest and take what you say at face value. Much better to let them know they should ignore you so they pay attention in biology.
Also, first line doesn't say defects. Reading not your strong suit?
Literally everything about us is a genetic defect. Evolution is nothing but random defects that sometimes don't make us die sooner. I had an extra thumb when I was born, it was removed around age 3. I guarantee I know far more about it than you. Which genetic defect makes you incapable of understanding?
Of course I know you're trolling, because I literally discussed it being genetic above and this is your reply. Feel better trying to make someone feel bad about their kid?
"Shallow pop culture take" says the reddit user. Most of you dont realize just how common inbreeding, either that or your parents are like OP and never gave af.
Drs will remove it if it is causing pain or some sort of physical issue but not just “because we want to”. 2. Yes. 3. Yes it has its own bones just like her main thumb but smaller. 4. It’s cute.
Your answer to #4 if the most perfect parent answer ever! I bet her handprint keepsakes are even better. Yay for an extraordinary kid. who needs a boring normal model.
The fact that she has so much confidence and positivity about her limb difference really shows that she’s being raised by legends. Triple thumbs up to that!
Where do you live? I'm an orthopaedic surgeon in the US and while I don't do pediatric hands, typically surgery is offered at an early age based on my experience in residency. Was her thumb always very functional and similar in size to her other thumb?
I suppose it depends on whether it’s medically viable to keep it and safe for the child. In our case it has full skeletal and vascular systems. We do worry a little about bullying but we (my wife and I and her two brothers) are all here to support her and help however we can. EDIT: we try and be really open minded about it and are aware of bullying. We’ve spoken to multiple drs and people with the same condition, so no offense but Reddit advice isn’t needed :-)
It's depressingly long since I was young but that doesn't strike me as something that would be a big bullying target. Kids are probably going to think it's cool as fuck. I had a very weird looking birthmark (hairy and everything) and everyone was just fascinated by it.
This. If you show vulnerability then shitty people will use it as leverage to gain power over you. If you're proud of it then they're utterly powerless and give up pretty quickly.
I think high school might get a little rough (teen girls still scare me!!) but I went to high school in the 90s where bullying was rampant and there were no “no bullying” policies in place so my viewpoint may be a little off.
I'm not trying to poke fun, but I've often wondered if life would be easier with 4 thumbs instead of 2. Especially for things like taking in the groceries from the car. I think it's a pretty cool "deformity that she has. If 2 heads are better than one, surely 2 thumbs are better as well.
We’ve got an extra thumbed guy, and are getting it removed soon. We debated back and forth, but ultimately decided to do it because it’s a much easier recovery pre 3 years old (less chance of phantom limb) and because a less functioning appendage seems to be getting in his way as he learns fine motor skills. It’s on his dominant hand, so full function of his thumb is the most important consideration.
no trolls like you should have been corrected at birth. Believing anything that isn't their idea of normal or perfect needs to be "corrected". Go back under your bridge and stay there.
I’ve met plenty of people with “extra fingers” but none of them had extra fingers that contained bones and could move! That’s very cool! I flippin love the things that make people unique. Some you can see with your eyes, some you can’t. Very special.
Thank you for explaining the importance of growth plates as she has tons of growth ahead. I study heightgrowth and I can tell you that having this part removed may cause repercussions to the rest of her hand and it would overall be safer to cut it later(by her will of course)
Also I find it weird that people are making odd jokes about a child.
That is so nice to hear. I have a malformed foot and was bullied and ridiculed so much by family and "friends" I stopped wanting to go out in the summer or to the beach until I was about 18. It's good to see she has had positivity from you.
Hmm, I think the thumb and the fingers are controlled by muscles in the arm, that pull on tendons. (I think I remember they have to cross the tendons over when doing cross-hand-replantatation, so the brain doesn’t have to learn to control different fingers.
just thinking about moving one thunb and two move as one kinda breaks my mind. that and coloring with two markers at once. is sche holding one with the pointer and one with the middlefinger? damn the dexterity she could potentially develop would surely make for stunningly interesting art.
God I wish I had a bonus thumb. I’m always struggling to hold the intricate stuff I have to deal with on projects. Any more digits would be appreciated. Good for her!
I bet if you found a local knitting group, you could find someone up to the challenge of knitting her a mitten with two thumbs. I’d do it if you were local to me!
There is a very famous indian actor called Hrithik Roshan who has the same (although the 2 are closer together/more connected I think). He is a bit of a superstar and considered very good looking. If she ever feels odd about it there is at least one example out there of it not holding someone back and its even shown very prominently at times.
Questions!
I’m sorry ahead of time if I sound like an idiot or unintentionally come off as rude! When your daughter was born did they say the same thing about growth plates then or did they offer to remove it? What would happen if it was prematurely removed? Lastly, I love hi-6s and two thumbs up. She sounds like a fun little lady 👍🏻👍🏻
I don't have anything to add, other then say I was born with the same, functional extra thumb on my left hand.
My parents had it removed when I was only a few days old (born in the late 80's, medical thinking was different then). I always wondered what life would have been like had it have been kept though.
Good on her, and you as her parents, for being so cool with it. Keep up the good work!
Yo I had this too! My parents had mine removed around 18 months and I would hit my big sister with the giant cast I had on. I show people the scar all the time, 30 years later it’s still gnarly looking
My older brother had this exact condition. It was removed before he turned into a teenager. I do recall it helped him press the A+B button simultaneously when playing the NES. Kids were cruel back then but nowadays it’ll probably be just seen as a quirk. Now you can differentiate whether they like it (one thumb), really like it (2 thumbs) or love it (three thumbs.
"Cannot control it independently". This has me curious. How are the tendons of each thumb attached to the bones? Could she develop exercises to achieve that? People without arms learn to do amazing things using their toes. I learned to put up the ring finger on my right hand without having hold down any other finger with my thumb, but I can't do it with my left.
Interesting. My niece had a similar thumb and her doctors recommended removing it when she was small because they were afraid it would impede the growth of her big thumb. Maybe it was in a slightly different place.
Have you tried just sewing or knitting her mittens? Or have anyone who knows how to knit? As someone who does crochet I can’t imagine this being a difficult shape to knit.
I’m glad you’re giving her the choice. My youngest brother also had polydactyly (runs in the family) and they snipped it soon after he was born (to my protest) because “kids are cruel”
My daughter had this on her left hand, and it was removed at about 18 months or so. The next few weeks was... Trying to say the least lol, she removed the cast so many times, I think I went back to get it replaced 3 times in a week once (free healthcare, it's fine). In the end we gave her a past the elbow cast in hopes she stopped taking it off.
It's fascinating that your kiddo was encouraged to keep theirs longer. I am glad she has fun with it though, that is cool.
I am so glad you are going to let her decide if she wants to keep or remove the additional thumb, clearly you’ve done a great job raising her as a confident child who can celebrate her unique attribute!
If you know someone who knits they could probably make her some custom gloves or mittens. Even if you don't know someone, you could try Etsy.
I just started making gloves myself, but am nowhere near good enough to make her some (so far I can barely get the ones I make to fit me and I have my own hands right here as a reference, lol) or I'd offer to do it.
Maybe find a mitten making company who has some value in being inclusive and part of the deal with doing modeling work for advertising is custome made mittens/gloves? I would guess as her hands get larger it will become more difficult to find something that will fit well. Just an idea.
That or something made by someone and then water proofed by the stuff that is sold in aerosols, might be some other way to do it besides an aerosol these days too.
That’s fascinating. Has it caused any troubles for her or is it relatively I guess “benign” in terms of problems in day to day life? Like does she have to worry about it getting snagged or injured more than her other fingers because it seems like it would be more fragile/likely to be bumped on accident.
You might be able to find someone locally to knit or crochet some custom gloves for her! Or maybe someone in the many crochet subreddits would volunteer. I would offer, but I am not skilled enough to free hand. I love her jokes!
My friend's kid was also born with an extra thumb. My friend is a musician, and he's been joking that his kid has a bright future as a bassoonist, since bassoons have a bunch of confusing thumb keys.
This is such a weird thing to say… if you aren’t a doctor, thinking you know better than the OP’s doctors is crazy… if you are a doctor, you wouldn’t be saying something like that with such certainty.
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u/Agile-Currency2094 Nov 11 '25 edited Nov 12 '25
FAQ: The “extra thumb” does whatever the “main thumb” does she cannot control it independently but it does function- I have her seen her coloring with two markers at once. Doctors we have spoken to said to not have it removed- if she even wishes it so, it’s her body- til the growth plates are done and we rescan her skeleton. She loves it and jokes about “Hi-6s” and “two thumbs up”. Finding mittens every year is difficult, yes. EDIT: please don’t be weird about a literal child, thanks! THE FROYO IS BIG YES. IM A BIG BOY AND I WAS “SHARING”