5month old sticking tongue out after eating

[Ek3009]

I started weaning my 5 month old just under 2 weeks ago. She was showing all signs she was ready and has took to it really well. She has 2 meals a day and has 4 7oz bottles in 24 hour (she was taking 5 but I think 28oz a day is still ok?)

However, she has started sticking her tongue out constantly throughout the day and it seems to get worse she’s just eaten.

Is this normal? I gave her some mushed frozen mango in In one of the little net feeders about 2 days ago to let her chew on and it seems to be since that, I’m not sure if she’s got a wee burn from it being frozen

Anyone any ideas?

What signs?

Unless advised by a HV/medic, early weaning is not advised.

My nephew pokes his tongue out all the time as well. It’s what babies do. 🤷🏻‍♀️

when you say 'stick their tongue out' do you mean like a sort of gagging motion, or just sticking their tongue out randomly, like babies do in general?

I haven’t heard from a health visitor since she was 8 weeks. She’s sitting up unaided etc and was definitely needing it for her appetite. I have done plenty research before I started and as I said she has taken to it really well.

No she’s not gagging, she playfully sticks her tongue out to us and will mimic us doing it etc and has done for a while but this just seems excessive, it is constant and has only really started the last few days.

My daughter did this about the same age as yours, it carried on for a couple of months and then she just stopped. She's 21 years old now and keeps her tongue firmly in her mouth.

One thing, and it's just my opinion, I wouldn't be sticking my tongue out at her for her to mimic. It's not a very polite thing to teach children to do imo, and you don't want to encourage this phase to be around for any longer than it has to be.

I imagine she has just realised her tongue exists. Plus, if you are doing it to her, she is obviously going to copy you. If you dont want her to do it then just dont stick your tongue out at her. She will forget about it eventually. You dont see many 5 year olds going around with their tongue hanging out of their mouth most of the day lol

@Countdowntonothing

It's the tounge thrust reflex. Perfectly normal but suggests she's not ready for weaning yet. Babies shouldn't wean before 6 months unless under medical advice (paediatrician not old school HV)

This

Milk is waaaaay more calorific than any ‘first weaning foods’ so if they have a hefty appetite just get more milk down them

Iv looked at the tongue thrust reflex but it definitely isn’t this. The reflex is stimulated with touch to the lips or tongue causing it to stick out. She doesn’t do it when being fed or when the spoon touches her lips/tongue, she actually eats really well. It’s once she’s out her highchair and lying on her mat etc it just seems excessive as I have said.

She maybe has just discovered her tongue and hopefully she will stop soon.

But food is less calorie dense than milk. So it won’t do anything but fill her up with less nutrition.

🤷🏻‍♀️

Does your HV not have a phone?

Early weaning tends to be all about the parent, to be honest. Some weird sense of achievement?

Definitely not about me and feeling a sense of achievement, she’s my daughter and I’m doing what’s best for her.

She’s meeting all 3 points the NHS suggests for weaning and she’s happy, healthy and thriving, the NHS also suggests around 6 months not 6 months bang on. Anyway this post is not to ask for opinions on early weaning so I’m not getting into that any further but thanks for your advice.

I just don't understand why parents are so desperate to wean unless there are medical issues. They advise around 6 months at the earliest, why do 4 weeks prior? If she is hungry she needs milk and it sounds like a reflex to me too.

Have you spoken to a GP @Ek3009 ? It might be worth getting their opinion

Also as food isn't really needed at the moment calorie wise would you stop foods for a couple of weeks and see if anything changes?

OP hasn't asked for opinions on weaning age!

FWIW, new research is suggesting early weaning can help prevent food allergies (look to the LEAP study which suggests exposure to peanut from 4 months in at risk children).
The issue really doesn't sound like it's to do with food and, as OP says, is not the tongue thrust reflex as this is a reflex associated with something being put in the mouth.

I would wonder if this is just baby discovering something new and trying it out. My DS has gone through random phases of shrieking 'Dah!', standing but putting his head down so he's a little 'triangle', sucking his toes etc. He does these things for a few days and then moves on to a new 'skill'.

Early weaning isn’t child abuse you know, 2 of mine were weaned at 16 weeks because that was the advice at the time and they’re now healthy teens.

She will mimic you so don’t do it to her but it doesn’t sound like anything to worry about @Ek3009 she’s just becoming aware of herself that’s all.

@MustBeTime they don’t advice weaning at 6 months earliest. 4 months is the earliest and six months is really the latest according to lots of studies. There is no strong evidence that weaning from four months onwards causes harm. And there is some suggestion that it lowers allergies.
My littlest one stick her toy fur out lots during weaning I think she was just discovering how it felt.

She’s meeting all 3 points the NHS suggests for weaning

But she isn’t 6 months which is the most important.

I would hold off until 6 months, it’s 6 months for a reason.

Hi OP, my DS discovered his tongue at about that age and had it poking out for about 6 weeks. Think he just liked it. I think I also read somewhere they sometimes like to do it when they're teething.

Why are you so keen to wean? Breast/bottle feeding is usually a lot easier so carry on as long as possible. Six months is the earliest possible age, not a target by which they must have started weaning.