A newborn may stick out the tongue during play or pampering, or during painful teething. However, if this happens systematically, parents should seek help from a pediatrician, as the cause may lie in serious congenital diseases.
Innocent reasons
In the first months of life, the baby adapts to the outside world, expressing emotions with peculiar gestures that are often incomprehensible to adults. For example, he may stick out his tongue, trying to make a sound to draw attention to himself. This usually happens when the baby is carried away by the game or some other "stormy activity", accompanied by crawling or waving arms and legs.
Teething can also cause the tongue to stick out. Thus, the baby massages the gums, learns new "reliefs" of the oral cavity and distracts himself from pain. But the crumbs, weaned from breastfeeding early enough, often pull out the tongue, satisfying their sucking reflex.
From an early age, children try to imitate their parents, repeating their facial expressions and sounds. Therefore, sticking out the tongue may be due to the fact that the baby noticed a similar gesture behind one of the relatives.
Possible diseases
Parents who notice the child's frequent protrusion of the tongue should closely observe his behavior. For example, in conjunction with tilting the head during sleep, this gesture can signal increased intracranial pressure. In this case, you must immediately contact a specialist and undergo an examination.
A newborn can often stick out his tongue due to the presence of a white coating on it, which is called "thrush" by the common people. It does not cause any harm to the baby, however, it causes acute discomfort in him. In this case, the consultation of a pediatrician is also necessary.
Sometimes the structure of the baby's lower jaw simply does not allow the tongue to fit into his oral cavity. This is not a disease, however, if the baby systematically sticks out its tip, it is still worth consulting a doctor. The increased size of the tongue may also indicate the presence of congenital diseases that are invisible to the naked eye.
Prevention of thrush consists in maintaining cleanliness - the baby should have its own dishes. After feeding, it is recommended to rinse the baby's mouth with a teaspoon of boiled water.
Serious ailments
If the baby's tongue does not just stick out, but falls out, you need to immediately seek medical help. One of the worst causes of this phenomenon is facial muscle atrophy. In this case, adults will notice the complete absence of facial expressions on the newborn's face - he will not smile, grimace, etc.
Also sticking out the tongue can be a symptom of hypothyroidism - a disease of the thyroid gland. This usually happens due to the fact that during pregnancy the mother did not have enough iodine. To get rid of this ailment, you need highly qualified and timely medical assistance.
