Why does a baby click when sucking? Baby smacks while feeding


You will learn what you need to pay attention to if your baby clicks when feeding.

Breastfeeding is necessary for every baby. After all, breast milk increases the baby’s immunity and is perfectly absorbed.

But questions often arise that some mothers cannot find answers to. It happens that a child eats for a long time and at the same time smacks his lips. What could this mean?

There can only be two reasons for this. You may simply be applying it to your chest incorrectly. When applied correctly, the baby's mouth should be wide open. The baby should take into his mouth not only the nipple, but also the areola and the entire nipple circle. When sucking, the baby's lips should be turned out and relaxed.

If the baby clicks when he suckles, then this may be a problem with the frenulum. The baby has a short frenulum under the tongue, the nipple can often fall out of the mouth, resulting in a characteristic smacking sound. A short frenulum limits the movement of the tongue. Therefore, a baby with a short frenulum usually suckles longer and more often. If you notice such a problem, then you simply need to contact a pediatric dentist or surgeon. The short frenulum must be trimmed, since in the future the child may still have problems with speech, and perhaps with breathing.

So, if your baby makes clicking noises when feeding, pay attention to how he holds the breast in his mouth. Proper breastfeeding will make the feeding process easier for both you and your baby. If you attach your baby to the breast correctly, then pay attention to his frenulum. If you notice that your child cannot lift his tongue, then most likely he has a short frenulum. If you have this problem, immediately contact your dentist or surgeon and have your baby’s frenulum trimmed.

New sounds that a baby makes are always a reason for joy for every mother. But if the baby clicks during feeding, this may indicate frenulum defects and improper attachment to the breast. This behavior of the baby alarms many women, especially if he behaves restlessly at this time.

We apply it correctly

Smacking your lips is often a sign of improper breastfeeding. Incorrect latching of the nipple leads to the baby swallowing a certain amount of air, which leads to unpleasant sensations in the tummy, frequent regurgitation and hiccups.

The baby should be given the breast only in a wide open mouth, so that the baby grasps not only the nipple, but also most of the areola (i.e., the areola). At the same time, the baby’s lips are slightly turned out and relaxed, and the puffy cheeks move in time with the sucking. If you move your breasts a little, you can see how the baby’s tongue clasps the lower part of the areola. If the baby “slips” onto the nipple, you need to pick up the breast and offer it again.

It is necessary not only so that the baby stops smacking when feeding, but also for successful painless feeding, because in most cases it is what causes cracks in the nipples.

Short bridle

Another reason that a baby smacks during feeding is a physiological feature in the form of a short, dense frenulum or attached to the very tip of the tongue. Because of it, the movements of the tongue are limited, the child is unable to grasp the nipple well, and as a result, he constantly releases it, which causes characteristic sounds.

Along with smacking, another sign of a short frenulum is the baby staying at the breast for a long time: it takes more time for him to eat.

short bridle

A pediatric dentist will help confirm or refute suspicions regarding the length of the frenulum. If it is really too short and inelastic, the doctor will trim it slightly. This procedure is safe, performed very quickly and does not require hospitalization: after it you can immediately go home.

Of course, sometimes the frenulum is dissected under general anesthesia: this usually applies to cases where the frenulum is so short that the tongue seems fused to the floor of the mouth, but this is quite rare.

Trimming the frenulum will not only save you from problems with feeding, but will also protect your child from possible difficulties associated with breathing, mastering speech, forming a bite and correct posture.

Responsibility for the child’s health primarily lies on the shoulders of his mother, so don’t be shy about asking the doctor what you think are stupid or trivial questions. If you are concerned about any phenomenon, even something as seemingly mundane as smacking your lips during feeding, it is better to seek advice and help from a qualified specialist. This will help dispel your fears or prevent the development of complications in the future.

In the first days of his life, the baby sucks up to 30 ml of milk. While he eats, he learns to distribute his breathing, control the entire process, tries to swallow and suck correctly. However, all this is quite complicated and the child swallows air when feeding from a bottle, which accumulates in the ventricle and causes pain.

Why do older children smack their lips?

If the child is older, this may be due to psychological reasons. The child’s psyche is still fragile and very vulnerable. Various experiences, stressful situations, changes in environment - all this affects the child’s behavior. The baby may kick his legs all night, roll over from side to side, talk in his sleep and smack his lips. It is imperative to observe how the child’s day goes during the day, and whether he is overexcited. This often happens when a child just starts going to kindergarten and adaptation is underway. Even the cancellation of sleep during the day is also a moment for worry.

But there are other reasons why such night sounds can occur. Sometimes the reason lies in the wrong bite. In a child who is sleeping, the muscles are in a relaxed state and the jaw may sink slightly and smacking sounds may be heard. This is not a disease and can be easily eliminated at an early stage.

And another reason may be problems with the gastrointestinal tract, when when bile is thrown into the esophagus, there may be a reflex swallowing, while the child smacks his lips. In this case, you need to contact medical specialists. The most correct thing in this situation is a comprehensive examination of the baby by a psychologist or gastroenterologist.

Why does a child swallow air?

When a child is in a hurry and eats quickly, parents can observe that excess air gets in with the baby's food. As a result, the baby becomes restless and tearful.

The reasons for swallowing air during feeding may be the following:

  • does not grasp the pacifier correctly. In this position, the baby smacks his lips when feeding from a bottle, grabbing air droplets along with the milk;
  • when the bottle is in the wrong position. Make sure that there is always mixture in the nipple during feeding;
  • when the hole in the nipple is too large or cracked. The baby swallows air when feeding from a bottle, while simultaneously choking on milk;
  • with greedy sucking. Droplets of air masses enter the baby’s ventricle along with the mixture;
  • incorrect body position. The head is low, it is difficult to breathe. To make breathing easier, the baby tries to swallow more air masses along with the milk. In such a situation, you need to find a comfortable position for the child.

Why is the child breathing heavily?

Until a month old, a baby's breathing always occurs unevenly. This is considered the norm. As well as gurgling and wheezing. Mothers often worry about why the newborn is breathing heavily after bottle feeding. There is no particular reason for concern here.

The baby could simply have overdone it, sucked persistently, and was tired. The nasal passages of infants are narrow. The nose is small. Over time this goes away. There is no particular reason for concern here. Some children, on the contrary, breathe heavily during the feeding process. They sniffle, grunt, and strain.

Why is the baby clicking?

This action may occur during feeding. First, check the position of the bottle. The baby clicks when feeding from a bottle and does not latch onto the nipple well. Secondly, perhaps a short frenulum, a short tongue. In this case, you should consult a doctor.

Try to give the nipple deeper and stretch out the baby’s tongue before feeding. A strong clicking sound can be observed when the hole in the nipple has resolved and the baby begins to choke while eating. Therefore, the pacifier needs to be replaced.

What to do if a child swallows air?

There are two ways to help your baby:

  • take the child on your lap and support the back. Lightly stroke your tummy;
  • hold the baby in a “column” position. His head should touch his mother's shoulder. Lightly pat him on the back. Air masses will come out quickly. Otherwise, put the baby down and repeat the procedure again.

When the baby swallows air while feeding from a bottle and stops eating, pick him up, hold him, let him burp, continue to feed him.

Whenever your baby finishes eating, give him the opportunity to burp. Air masses will then stop collecting in the ventricle, and the baby will not show anxiety.

To make feeding a joy for mother and baby, use these tips:

  • give only warm mixture;
  • tilt the bottle so that the nipple is completely filled and the air masses go to the bottom;
  • Monitor the position of the baby's head. It should be on the same level as his body;
  • During feeding, you can change the position of the baby;
  • check the hole in the nipple. It should not be too small nor too large.;
  • Turn the bottle nipple side down. The milk should drip, not flow;
  • learn to determine when your baby is already full. Don't try to overfeed him.

Using the tips above, you can prevent your child from swallowing air. He will not experience discomfort after feeding. The process of eating will be calm.

New sounds that a baby makes are always a reason for joy for every mother. But if the baby clicks during feeding, this may indicate frenulum defects and improper attachment to the breast. This behavior of the baby alarms many women, especially if he behaves restlessly at this time.

Causes

Tongue clicking is characteristic of almost every baby. There is no reason for the mother to worry if this happens extremely rarely and does not entail any consequences. Restless behavior or frequent spitting up may be cause for concern.

In fact, new mothers face this problem and often the older generation (especially grandmothers) can escalate the situation. For most women, this behavior of their baby amuses and brings joy, because he has learned something new.

The ingress of air along with the mother's milk is the reason that the baby clicks his tongue while sucking in his sleep.

In some cases, if a child clicks his tongue in his sleep, this can lead to painful sensations in the baby’s stomach, he begins to have hiccups, colic and regurgitation, and he will also gain little weight. In any case, you need to understand the causes of the clicking noise and find out when they need to be eliminated and when you can leave everything as is.

Why does a baby smack when feeding:

  • strong flow of milk;
  • improper breast grip;
  • short frenulum under the tongue.

Every mother should learn to feel her baby and understand when something is really bothering him, and when grandmothers are simply telling myths. Observe your newborn to make sure he is breastfeeding correctly. If there are no problems with attachments, and the baby grasps the entire nipple and areola, then the reason may be strong hot flashes, when the baby simply does not have time to suck.

If the previous two problems are not confirmed, then you should pay attention to the hyoid frenulum. The baby smacks his tongue when breastfeeding if the breast is short.

The baby clicks while feeding - Expectant mother

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Why does a baby click when he suckles?

You will learn what you need to pay attention to if your baby clicks when feeding.

Breastfeeding is necessary for every baby. After all, breast milk increases the baby’s immunity and is perfectly absorbed.

But questions often arise that some mothers cannot find answers to. It happens that a child eats for a long time and at the same time smacks his lips. What could this mean?

There can only be two reasons for this. You may simply be applying it to your chest incorrectly. When applied correctly, the baby's mouth should be wide open. The baby should take into his mouth not only the nipple, but also the areola and the entire nipple circle. When sucking, the baby's lips should be turned out and relaxed. If the baby clicks when he suckles, then this may be a problem with the frenulum. The baby has a short frenulum under the tongue, the nipple can often fall out of the mouth, resulting in a characteristic smacking sound. A short frenulum limits the movement of the tongue.

Therefore, a baby with a short frenulum usually suckles longer and more often. If you notice such a problem, then you simply need to contact a pediatric dentist or surgeon.

The short frenulum must be trimmed, since in the future the child may still have problems with speech, and perhaps with breathing.

So, if your baby makes clicking noises when feeding, pay attention to how he holds the breast in his mouth. Proper breastfeeding will make the feeding process easier for both you and your baby.

If you attach your baby to the breast correctly, then pay attention to his frenulum. If you notice that your child cannot lift his tongue, then most likely he has a short frenulum.

If you have this problem, immediately contact your dentist or surgeon and have your baby’s frenulum trimmed.

If you can immediately correctly determine the cause of the clicking noise during feeding, you will make life easier for both yourself and your baby.

IrinaF

. Why give your child water, especially from a bottle? The baby does not need any additional feeding at all. All the necessary liquid is ALREADY contained in milk.

Foremilk is 90% water. My son, 11 months old, still doesn’t drink water, only breastfeeding, and feels great.

Moreover, there is evidence that supplementing with water is generally harmful for infants in the first months of life.

Firstly, in babies the centers of hunger and thirst are located side by side, in a child both hunger and thirst are all the same sensation; in any case, he will ask for the breast.

If he is thirsty, he can suck just a little, if he is hungry, he will suck for a longer time. Thus, if you give water and it takes up space in the stomach, the baby perceives this as feeding and sucks less milk, i.e.

malnourished. 100 ml of water - 100 ml of uneaten milk, this is very important for a baby

Bo2, there is evidence that excess water can disrupt digestion and cause intestinal dysbiosis. After all, a child’s intestines, by their nature, are not designed for additional water. Not a single mammal supplements its cubs with water.

B3, the mechanism of sucking from a bottle and from a breast is significantly different. The latch on the bottle and breast is different, no matter what manufacturers of bottles identical to the mother's breast claim.

I daresay that regular contact with the bottle spoils your baby's latch and causes nipple confusion - the baby tries to suckle on the breast and bottle in the same way.

Hence the suction of air during sucking and smacking sounds.

Conclusion: remove additional soldering, remove bottles and pacifiers, pay attention to the correct grip. The child should grasp the areola as deeply as possible, with less areola remaining under the lower lip than above the upper lip. The mouth should be open wide - about 130 degrees. If you move the lower sponge away while sucking, the tongue should be visible.

You can send a photo of the capture to any of the consultants. Perhaps there is still something to correct.

And it wouldn’t hurt to examine the baby’s mouth. Isn't the bridle short? Is the tip of the tongue forked? If you can’t understand it yourself, ask your pediatrician to see it.

It happens that a short frenulum interferes with normal grip - the child cannot stick out his tongue properly, cannot suck tightly, hence the suction of air and various smacking and clicking sounds during sucking. Trimming the frenulum solves this problem.

Why does an infant smack his lips when feeding?

The birth of a child usually forces a young mother to pay attention to any condition of the baby: how he sleeps, eats, reacts to his surroundings, what sounds he makes.

The latter especially applies to feeding, because we know that when properly attached to the breast, the baby should not make any extraneous sounds.

But it also happens that the baby seems to click or smack his lips when feeding. Why does this happen and is it harmful for the baby?

Baby eats and smacks: reasons

The characteristic smacking sound made by the baby while sucking indicates that the baby is swallowing a small amount of air along with the milk. Of course, any baby can make smacking sounds when feeding. If this happens rarely and is not accompanied by regurgitation or restless behavior, then there is no reason to worry.

However, in some cases, this can provoke discomfort in the tummy, colic, regurgitation and hiccups, and small weight gain, and therefore you should understand the causes of smacking in advance and try to eliminate them.

Usually a child smacks his lips in three cases, each of which has its own solutions:

  • improper attachment to the breast;
  • sucking during a strong flow of milk;
  • short hyoid frenulum.

Why does my baby click while feeding?

" Children "

Source: https://babyalll.ru/rebenok-cokaet-vo-vremya-kormleniya.html

Correct attachment and hot flashes

The main reason that a baby smacks his lips while breastfeeding is improper attachment to the breast. If the nipple and areola are not completely captured, the baby will swallow a certain amount of air along with the milk, and as a result, he will be bothered by bloating and colic.

Real hunger. Before offering your baby the breast, you should make sure that he really wants to eat. The feeding process should only happen when the baby is hungry; it is not recommended to accustom him to the fact that he can play with the breast in his mouth or be constantly present, like a pacifier. This will make the mother’s daily routine easier and will be beneficial for the child.

Correct application. To prevent the baby from smacking while sucking, his mouth should be wide open, completely covering the nipple and approximately 80% of the areola. The lips should be relaxed and slightly turned out. The cheeks are slightly puffed out, and the rhythm of breast sucking can be seen from them. If you look closely, you will notice that the tongue has completely engulfed the areola from below. In the case when the baby has slid down and is sucking only the edge of the nipple, you need to take the breast from him and offer him again.

Proper breastfeeding is necessary not only so that the newborn stops clicking, but also so that feeding is painless for the mother, and the baby develops a correct bite. Incorrect attachment can cause cracked nipples.

Strong lactation. If a baby smacks his lips while breastfeeding, even if the attachment was correct, this may indicate that he does not have time to swallow milk due to a rapid flow. This is possible from the first months after birth, when the lactation process has not yet normalized. To prevent the baby from choking during feeding, the mother needs to express a little milk until the problem is solved.

Smacks while feeding. Causes of clicking sounds when feeding a baby

22.04.2019

You will learn what you need to pay attention to if your baby clicks when feeding.

Breastfeeding is necessary for every baby. After all, breast milk increases the baby’s immunity and is perfectly absorbed.

But questions often arise that some mothers cannot find answers to. It happens that a child eats for a long time and at the same time smacks his lips. What could this mean?

There can only be two reasons for this. You may simply be applying it to your chest incorrectly. When applied correctly, the baby's mouth should be wide open. The baby should take into his mouth not only the nipple, but also the areola and the entire nipple circle. When sucking, the baby's lips should be turned out and relaxed.

If the baby clicks when he suckles, then this may be a problem with the frenulum. The baby has a short frenulum under the tongue, the nipple can often fall out of the mouth, resulting in a characteristic smacking sound. A short frenulum limits the movement of the tongue.

Therefore, a baby with a short frenulum usually suckles longer and more often. If you notice such a problem, then you simply need to contact a pediatric dentist or surgeon.

The short frenulum must be trimmed, since in the future the child may still have problems with speech, and perhaps with breathing.

So, if your baby makes clicking noises when feeding, pay attention to how he holds the breast in his mouth. Proper breastfeeding will make the feeding process easier for both you and your baby.

If you attach your baby to the breast correctly, then pay attention to his frenulum. If you notice that your child cannot lift his tongue, then most likely he has a short frenulum.

If you have this problem, immediately contact your dentist or surgeon and have your baby’s frenulum trimmed.

It is always difficult at first for new parents to understand what their baby wants from them. As a rule, they just start trying everything in turn: changing the diaper, feeding the baby, helping him burp, putting him to bed.

But if you know about simple baby signals and their meaning, it will be much easier for you to calm your baby, and he will be much less fussy.

Next we will talk about how babies behave, what signals they give to us adults when they are hungry, tired or want to play.

Causes

Tongue clicking is characteristic of almost every baby. There is no reason for the mother to worry if this happens extremely rarely and does not entail any consequences. Restless behavior or frequent spitting up may be cause for concern.

In fact, new mothers face this problem and often the older generation (especially grandmothers) can escalate the situation. For most women, this behavior of their baby amuses and brings joy, because he has learned something new.

The ingress of air along with the mother's milk is the reason that the baby clicks his tongue while sucking in his sleep.

In some cases, if a child clicks his tongue in his sleep, this can lead to painful sensations in the baby’s stomach, he begins to have hiccups, colic and regurgitation, and he will also gain little weight. In any case, you need to understand the causes of the clicking noise and find out when they need to be eliminated and when you can leave everything as is.

Why does a baby smack when feeding:

  • strong flow of milk;
  • improper breast grip;
  • short frenulum under the tongue.

Every mother should learn to feel her baby and understand when something is really bothering him, and when grandmothers are simply telling myths.

Observe your newborn to make sure he is breastfeeding correctly.

If there are no problems with attachments, and the baby grasps the entire nipple and areola, then the reason may be strong hot flashes, when the baby simply does not have time to suck.

If the previous two problems are not confirmed, then you should pay attention to the hyoid frenulum. The baby smacks his tongue when breastfeeding if the breast is short.

Correct attachment and hot flashes

The main reason that a baby smacks his lips while breastfeeding is improper attachment to the breast. If the nipple and areola are not completely captured, the baby will swallow a certain amount of air along with the milk, and as a result, he will be bothered by bloating and colic.

Real hunger. Before offering your baby the breast, you should make sure that he really wants to eat. The feeding process should only happen when the baby is hungry; it is not recommended to accustom him to the fact that he can play with the breast in his mouth or be constantly present, like a pacifier. This will make the mother’s daily routine easier and will be beneficial for the child.

Correct application. To prevent the baby from smacking while sucking, his mouth should be wide open, completely covering the nipple and approximately 80% of the areola. The lips should be relaxed and slightly turned out.

The cheeks are slightly puffed out, and the rhythm of breast sucking can be seen from them. If you look closely, you will notice that the tongue has completely engulfed the areola from below.

In the case when the baby has slid down and is sucking only the edge of the nipple, you need to take the breast from him and offer him again.

Proper breastfeeding is necessary not only so that the newborn stops clicking, but also so that feeding is painless for the mother, and the baby develops a correct bite. Incorrect attachment can cause cracked nipples.

Strong lactation. If a baby smacks his lips while breastfeeding, even if the attachment was correct, this may indicate that he does not have time to swallow milk due to a rapid flow.

This is possible from the first months after birth, when the lactation process has not yet normalized.

To prevent the baby from choking during feeding, the mother needs to express a little milk until the problem is solved.

Short bridle

If your baby clicks his tongue while bottle feeding or breastfeeding, this may indicate a short frenulum.

This is the name given to the physiological feature when the frenulum is attached to the edge of the tongue. This causes incorrect grip, because the baby’s tongue movements are limited.

For these children, it takes a little longer to get full and they begin to lose weight.

Only a highly qualified pediatric dentist can tell whether a child’s frenulum is short or long. If it is short and not elastic, the doctor suggests trimming it. This procedure is performed in a dentist's office for a short time. You do not have to go to the hospital with your child, since after the procedure you can go home straight away.

Source: https://debono.ru/chmokaet-vo-vremya-kormleniya-prichiny-cokanya-pri-kormlenii.html

Short bridle

If your baby clicks his tongue while bottle feeding or breastfeeding, this may indicate a short frenulum. This is the name given to the physiological feature when the frenulum is attached to the edge of the tongue. This causes incorrect grip, because the baby’s tongue movements are limited. For these children, it takes a little longer to get full and they begin to lose weight.

Only a highly qualified pediatric dentist can tell whether a child’s frenulum is short or long. If it is short and not elastic, the doctor suggests trimming it. This procedure is performed in a dentist's office for a short time. You do not have to go to the hospital with your child, since after the procedure you can go home straight away.

It is always difficult at first for new parents to understand what their baby wants from them. As a rule, they just start trying everything in turn: changing the diaper, feeding the baby, helping him burp, putting him to bed. But if you know about simple baby signals and their meaning, it will be much easier for you to calm your baby, and he will be much less fussy. Next we will talk about how babies behave, what signals they give to us adults when they are hungry, tired or want to play.

If the child is hungry

If your baby is hungry and crying, it means that the stage when he wanted to eat and tried to tell you about it has long passed.
It is much easier to feed a slightly hungry child who is still calm than one who is already fussy about it. Expect signals from a newborn that he is hungry every 1-2 hours, from a slightly older child - every 3-4 hours. Here are what these signals usually look like: Yawns, opens mouth;

Smacks lips or makes sucking noises;

Puts his fist in his mouth;

Moves eyes quickly in sleep;

Waving his arms.

Most babies use the same signals, so once you know what to look for, you'll know when your baby is telling you he's hungry.

If the child is tired and wants to sleep

It's easy to tell when your baby is tired and sleepy at first because babies typically eat and then fall asleep.
However, as children get older, they may stay awake longer, making it harder to determine whether they are sleepy. Some babies follow a schedule and sleep at almost the same time every day. Others don’t, and then mom and dad must understand when the child gets tired. You can do this by the following signs: Rubbing your eyes or yawning;

Frowns;

Sucking fingers;

Becomes irritable;

Ignores your attempts to distract him.

It is important that when your baby starts to show signs that he is tired and wants to sleep, you react quickly, as an overtired baby will be much more difficult to put to sleep.

Childhood diseases and developmental features that make breastfeeding difficult

This is the first thing that comes to the mind of a nursing mother whose baby cries a lot, including at the breast. One of the biggest challenges with breastfeeding, surprisingly, is that breastfeeding mothers don't know exactly how much milk their babies are getting or whether they have enough.

If your child is extremely fussy, most outsiders will likely point out that your baby is probably hungry. Since you are a mother, such remarks may make you feel guilty. After all, you are responsible for feeding your baby! How to dispel doubts and fears associated with a lack of milk?

  1. Watch your baby urinate and defecate. After the sixth day of life, you should receive at least six wet diapers and one dirty diaper per day. If this is the case, then the baby is getting enough of your milk.
  2. Frequent feedings are normal. In the first few weeks of life, a newborn usually needs 8-12 feedings per day. In the beginning, you may have to hold it to your chest almost constantly at times. Over the course of several hours, he will demand it very often, and then fall asleep for four to five hours. As the baby learns to suck more effectively, the number of feedings decreases.
  3. Monitor your baby's weight. By two weeks, the baby should have regained the birth weight and gain at least 150 grams per week over the next two to three months.

If you are still concerned that your milk supply is low, you may find it helpful to hire a lactation consultant to monitor your baby's weight gain and advise on ways to increase your milk supply if needed.

A child, like an adult, can fool around and stick out his tongue. Therefore, do not rush to run to the doctor.

  1. Pampering. During the game, the baby expresses his good mood in this way.
  2. Teething. At this time, the gums become swollen and painful. The child tries to relieve the pain and scratch the gums with his tongue. At this time, you can notice how he sucks or chews his tongue, refusing teethers.
  3. The child trains the muscles of the tongue. This is inherent in nature. This is how he prepares for speech activity.
  4. Hunger. The desire to eat can be expressed in this way. Instead of eating, he chews his tongue. When the child learns to ask for food differently, the problem will go away.
  5. Physiology. The tight lower jaw and large tongue do not allow the latter to fit comfortably in the oral cavity. The problem goes away when the baby is 6 months old.
  6. Dry, hot air. In these cases, the oral mucosa dries out, and the baby tries to moisten it.
  7. Short hyoid frenulum. This problem becomes noticeable already in the maternity hospital.

Parents are often concerned with the question: why does the baby chew or suck his tongue? The main reasons that should not cause concern in adults include:

  • preparation for the act of chewing adult food;
  • early weaning from the pacifier;
  • when a child is very busy and concentrates on performing some action, he chews his tongue;
  • You may notice how your baby chews his tongue when he is bored.

Adults should learn to recognize dangerous and harmless moments that cause a baby to stick out his tongue

It is very important to distinguish behavioral characteristics from a painful condition in time

From birth, babies strive to communicate with their mother, but their speech is not yet formed until they are 1 year old. To interact, children intuitively use facial expressions and exhibit motor activity in the presence of an adult. Babies use the same means of communication when they feel discomfort or want to communicate their needs.

However, some movements and habits of children may alert parents. So, mothers begin to worry when they observe obsessive thumb sucking or tongue sticking out. Sometimes there really is a reason to worry. To make sure that everything is fine with the baby, parents must understand why the child is sticking out his tongue and what accompanying symptoms should contact a specialist.

The birth of a child usually forces a young mother to pay attention to any condition of the baby: how he sleeps, eats, reacts to his surroundings, what sounds he makes. The latter especially concerns feeding, because we know that when properly attached to the breast, the baby should not make any extraneous sounds

But it also happens that the baby seems to click or smack his lips when feeding. Why does this happen and is it harmful for the baby?

Hypothyroidism in a child

A decrease in the functions of the thyroid gland can cause a disease such as hypothyroidism. Most often it occurs due to a lack of iodine in the mother’s body during pregnancy. The consequences for the child can be very serious: with hypothyroidism, there is a lag in intellectual and physical development.

To diagnose the pathology, blood is taken from the heel of newborns in the maternity hospital. If a disease is detected, the mother is invited to consult a specialist. If hypothyroidism was not detected immediately after birth, then it can be determined at 2-3 months of life by the following signs:

  • the skin has a marbled tint;
  • the child sticks out his tongue, his mouth is open regardless of the need for food;
  • the baby lags behind his peers in development;
  • the baby's skin is unnaturally dry;
  • the child’s tongue swells and does not fit in the oral cavity;
  • the nasolabial area has a bluish tint;
  • the newborn is not gaining weight well;
  • constipation occurs.

Before starting treatment, the baby is carefully examined. They take tests for thyroid hormones and perform an ultrasound of this organ. Next, hormonal therapy is prescribed.

High blood pressure

Another reason that a child’s tongue falls out of the mouth is a neurological pathology resulting from a birth injury.

Most often, neurologists diagnose high intracranial pressure in infants. At the same time, children experience tearfulness, sleep disturbances, and poor appetite.

A characteristic sign of the disease is a thrown back head, an open mouth and a protruding tongue. Also, a child with high intracranial pressure has the following symptoms:

  • increase in head size;
  • a bulge in the area of ​​the fontanel, which heals very slowly;
  • strabismus;
  • increased muscle tone;
  • tremor of the chin and upper limbs.

The therapy is carried out by a neurologist. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe the necessary medications. With appropriate timely treatment, the disease is completely cured.

Facial muscle atrophy

Facial muscle atrophy may also present with uvula protrusion during infancy. The disease occurs due to impaired functionality of the trigeminal nerve. It can be provoked by endocrine pathologies and malfunctions of the autonomic nervous system. In some cases, facial muscle atrophy is a complication of colds or injuries. The main symptoms of the disease include:

  • lack of smile;
  • inability to use facial expressions;
  • swelling of the lips;
  • disappearance of folds on the forehead;
  • recessed eyelids;
  • asymmetry of facial structures;
  • deviation of the chin from the center line.

A baby who exhibits such signs must be urgently shown to a therapist or neurologist. Complex therapy is used for treatment, which includes physiotherapy, massage and drug treatment. An example of facial muscle atrophy is shown in the photo.

Some oral diseases

Babies often open their mouths and show their uvula if they have inflammation in the mouth. Among the most common diseases in childhood, pediatricians identify candidiasis and stomatitis.

When there is a fungal infection of the mucous membrane (candidiasis) of the oral cavity, children stick out their tongues, trying to get rid of the discomfort. A one-month-old baby becomes infected with the disease from its mother during feeding or during childbirth.

After birth, candidiasis occurs in two- and three-month-old infants with frequent regurgitation. Dr. Evgeniy Komarovsky is sure: to avoid infection with thrush, the mother must monitor the baby’s hygiene.

Stomatitis can be caused by fungal microorganisms, viruses and bacteria. This pathology is characterized by the formation of small ulcers in the oral cavity, the temperature may rise, and appetite may worsen. Local drugs are used for treatment.

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