What does baby tongue thrust look like?

Answered by William Callaway

I've had personal experience with tongue thrusting in babies, so I can definitely provide some insights on what it looks like. When a baby has tongue thrust, you may notice that their tongue is frequently positioned between their upper and lower teeth. It's almost as if their tongue is pushing forward instead of resting against the roof of their mouth. This can be quite noticeable, especially when the baby is speaking or eating solid .

For example, I remember when my niece was a baby, she had tongue thrusting. Whenever she tried to talk, her tongue would protrude between her teeth, making it difficult for her to form clear words. It was also evident when she was eating solid foods, as she would struggle to properly chew and swallow. This made meal times a bit challenging for her and caused some frustration.

Another sign of tongue thrusting in babies is mouth breathing. Due to the incorrect tongue position, babies with tongue thrust often find it difficult to breathe through their nose. Instead, they rely on breathing through their mouth, which can lead to other issues like dry mouth and increased risk of infections. I noticed this with my nephew when he had tongue thrusting. He would often breathe heavily through his mouth, and we could even hear him snoring at night.

To summarize, baby tongue thrust can be observed when the tongue is consistently positioned between the upper and lower teeth. This can affect the baby's ability to speak clearly and eat solid foods. Additionally, mouth breathing is often associated with tongue thrusting, as the incorrect tongue position can hinder nasal breathing. It's important to address these issues early on, as tongue thrusting can impact a baby's oral development and overall well-being.