the tongue thing

[tzs]

what is this?
the last few days my 5.5 MO has been sticking her tongue out alot. kind of playfully...but it also seems kind of OCD-ish, if ya know what i mean.

i seem to remember hearing something about a tongue thing but can;t remember. is she going to be one of those kids who don;t stick their tongue back in their mouth?!? i've for sure seen babes walking around with their tongue hanging out. what's the deal?

[atlantafemme]

I would say don't worry. My LO went through a sticking-out-his-tongue phase around that age. He's 9 months now and much prefers to play w/anything he's not supposed to have. Occasionally he'll try to lick my face but that's the only time I see his tongue out anymore. I think it's fun and normal for babies to play with body parts when they first discover them.

[2boyzmama]

My son did this when he was teething. I think he was "feeling" his gums with his tongue. Babies explore the world with their mouths first (breastfeeding) then with their hands (often combining both, putting things in their mouths).

Most likely it's just a stage, she's exploring various ways to use her tongue. Nothing to worry about

Now there can be issues with oral motor control that can lead to lack of control of the tongue, and that might manifest by the tongue being in a constant position. For example, my middle son (special needs) used to hold his tongue flush with his lower lip almost constantly...not really sticking out, but also not "in" his mouth in an anatomically correct position. He had very little movement of his tongue, so it was not him sticking it out and in over and over, it just sat there. So that was very different.

I think she's just being a baby

[kismetbaby]

My son did the same a couple weeks ago. Spent a whole week sticking his tongue in and out, but it was either teething or just discovering a new sensation IMO. He doesn't do it anymore. . .last week he was making this smacking sound with his lips and this week he is scrunching up his face all the time. I think they are just exploring, as well as dealing with teething and other new sensations.

[philomom]

Do you have dogs? I say this because my neighbor's son always seems to have his tongue out ... especially if the dogs are in the room.

[tzs]

yep!!!! the lip smacking thing too!!!!

ok...thanks ladies.

(p.s. we DO have a dog. that would be hil-AR-ious if she was imitating him. mayne he could teach her to crawl!!!)