Baby’s tongue sticking out of her mouth.

Hello, I got your name from a web search on “tongue thrusting” I am a nurse practitioner in a small rural community in Illinois. Today I saw a Mexican American baby 2 1/2 months old that frequently but not always has her tongue sticking out of her mouth. It reminds me of a Down’s baby, but she has no other Down Syndrone characteristics.  Should I be concerned? (The Mom is concerned). She is healthy, and friendly. Thanks! L. APN, CPNP

Hi L, There can be many possible causes of why a baby that young carries her tongue outside her mouth.  Some possibilities might include any of the following:

• Tongue tie/ankyloglossia (if you see an actual “tip” then it would not be this)
• Respiratory reasons: allergies, congestion, infection/sinusitis, nasal blockage
• Large nipple on bottle which displaces tongue downward and forward away from the natural location on ridge behind upper front teeth
• Some type of syndrome (that might cause enlarged tongue or small oral cavity, etc.)
• Engorged breast, if nursing
• Certainly any sucking habits such as thumb, fingers, pacifier…these all displace tongue to an abnormal position when tongue is at rest

Offhand, these came to mind.  If a child is still  showing a “thrusting” pattern at around three years of age, it is probably not going to go away without intervention.  Sometimes it results in a lisp or other type of imprecise articulation and sometimes it might cause an open bite, etc. Hope this is helpful, even if it helps you rule out things. Sandra