Newborns like to use their mouths in various ways. When parents notice their newborns sticking out their tongues and chewing, they might wonder if this behavior is normal. The short answer is yes; it is completely normal for newborns to stick out their tongues at this age. However, sometimes it can be a signal of something the baby wants to express or an underlying condition.
1. Newborns sticking out their tongues
Newborns are born with a strong sucking reflex and instinct. Part of this reflex is the tongue-thrust reflex, where the baby sticks out their tongue to avoid choking and to latch onto the nipple.
Additionally, learning to use their mouth is one of the first steps for newborns to experience the world. Therefore, it is very normal for newborns to stick out their tongues, as it is part of their instinct to feed and explore the new world around them. Part of this behavior is the baby sensing the feeling of their own lips.
Reasons why newborns stick out their tongues:
- Imitation: A study has reported that infants as young as a few weeks old can imitate adult facial expressions, including sticking out their tongues.
- A habit: The tongue-thrust reflex in newborns includes sticking out their tongues to facilitate breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. By 4 to 6 months old, this reflex usually disappears, but some babies continue to stick out their tongues out of habit.
- Hunger or fullness: Crying is not the only way newborns communicate that they are hungry. Early signs of hunger can include clenching their fists, putting their hands in their mouths, turning towards the breast or bottle, and smacking or licking their lips. Therefore, sticking out their tongues can be part of a baby's hunger cues. However, sometimes newborns stick out their tongues even when they are full. Other signs of fullness can include turning their head away, spitting out food or milk, or simply refusing to nurse or eat.
- Large tongue size: If a baby has a larger-than-normal tongue, they may stick out their tongue multiple times a day. This can be due to genetic conditions or abnormal development of blood vessels or muscles in the tongue, as well as tumors in the oral cavity. Additionally, a large tongue can be a sign of hypothyroidism or Down syndrome.
- Small mouth size: Certain syndromes or conditions can cause a baby to have a smaller-than-average mouth. One example is micrognathia syndrome, which can be genetic or part of a cleft lip or palate condition.
- Low muscle tone: Since the tongue is a group of muscles controlled by other muscles in the mouth, decreased muscle tone can cause a baby to stick out their tongue more than usual.
- Mouth breathing: If a baby has a stuffy nose or tonsillitis, they may breathe through their mouth instead of their nose, causing them to stick out their tongue.
- Gas: Some newborns stick out their tongues when they feel abdominal pain due to gas. Babies react to this sensation more than others, and they may cry, grimace, stick out their tongues, or even smile when they pass gas or have a bowel movement to relieve the pain.
- Not ready for solid foods: Some newborns easily adapt to solid foods, while others do not like them and need more time to adjust. If a baby is not ready, they may stick out their tongue to push the food away or remove it from their mouth. In this case, parents might need to stop and try again after a week or two.
2. Newborns chewing their mouths
The behavior of newborns chewing their mouths may seem a bit odd but is actually very common. Most of the time, newborns chewing their mouths is completely normal, either as a reflex or a sign of natural development.
However, there are some situations where mouth chewing itself can be a problem or signal another concern, so parents should monitor their baby's behavior and contact a doctor early if they suspect anything unusual.
Reasons why newborns chew their mouths:
- Triggered by the sucking reflex: Newborns chewing their mouths is often a form of hand-sucking behavior seen in older babies. This is the only way for babies to sense food, due to their strong sucking instinct, and they will take the opportunity to latch onto almost anything near their mouth, including their own tongue.
- Sign of hunger: Some babies have a tongue-thrust reflex when it's time to feed, while others may start with chewing movements. So, if you see your newborn chewing their mouth, parents should pay attention as the baby might be ready to eat.
- Playing: Babies are natural explorers. When they realize they have a movable object in their mouth, many babies will enjoy spending time figuring out what this new toy does by chewing on it.
- Ready for solid foods: Babies who observe adults' reactions when putting food in their mouths by chewing, and even demand food, are showing signs that they are ready to transition to solid foods.
- Teething: Some babies find that applying pressure to their sore gums by chewing on them significantly relieves pain. Therefore, teething babies often chew on anything they can put in their mouths. However, since the tongue is an easy target, newborns chewing their mouths is a common occurrence.
In summary, children sometimes like to do strange things, but newborns sticking out their tongues and chewing their mouths too often can worry parents. While these are mostly normal reflexes for the reasons mentioned above, parents should also look for other underlying causes to get their baby checked in time, especially if accompanied by other signs such as refusing to eat, eating less, wheezing, rapid breathing, or continuous crying and not sleeping.
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