Tongue thrust?

TJ1979 · September 2013

E is almost 14 months (um, when did that happen???) We have done BLW since she was 6 months, and have recently started working with her using a spoon to feed herself. She's not very effective, but gets the idea, and sticks the spoon into the food, then into her mouth. But sometimes I just need her to eat her applesauce with probiotics quickly so we can go about our day. Suddenly this weekend, every time I stick the spoon in her mouth, she sticks her tongue out. I can't tell whether it's like the tongue thrust reflex in a newborn? Or if it's like she's trying to get a latch on the spoon like she does when she drinks out of a straw or something. Anyone else's LO do this? It's making applesauce time very slow and messy!

jesselayne8 · September 2013

Maybe she is just wanting you control the spoon herself instead of being fed? I doubt tongue thrust has come back.

kmc84 · September 2013

jesselayne8 said:
Maybe she is just wanting you control the spoon herself instead of being fed? I doubt tongue thrust has come back.

This was my thought too.

TJ1979 · September 2013

Well yeah, I'm sure it's not actually the tongue thrust reflex coming back, that was just the best way I could come up with to describe what she's doing. She seems perfectly happy, smiling and clapping and saying um yum yum! But she's pushing the spoon out and making a mess.

pb_bride · September 2013

M sometimes will stick his tongue out while eating, like he's suddenly found his tongue! He hasn't really done that with the spoon though, I do spoon-feed him yougurt/oatmeal, so I'm no help!

mcgeeva · September 2013

Nope ds will turn his head if I try to feed him. That's about it then he is happy to do it himself. We have used a fork and spoon for a while but some days we just want to use our hands. Maybe she just doesn't want it?

TJ1979 · September 2013

Oh she definitely wants it! She freaking loves her applesauce. But it's like she's forgotten how to eat off of a spoon since she started getting to use one herself. It's so odd. She's doing it right when she attempts to feed herself, but she doesn't actually eat much.

mcgeeva · September 2013

Maybe like you said she can't figure out how to grab and hold on to it. Their hands with a spoon isn't stead and I know ds some days the wrong side of the spoon is up and he gets nothing.

TJ1979 · September 2013

@mcgeeva I'm totally picturing your LO with his upside down spoon and getting all frustrated. Haha.

mcgeeva · September 2013

Oh yeah it's fun. He loves applesauce too but at this point since we went apple picking yesterday I am making the peices big so he can just use his hands. He gets frusterated with the spoon and like clockwork food ends up under his butt, in his hair etc. Got to love this age

I feel like we have to wash him down when he is done meals. Which is probably why he still comes home is different clothes then I sent him to daycare in some days.

amandaleigh1 · September 2013

I totally get that you want E to get more practice with a spoon on her own, but if there are times that you need her to suck something down quickly and with less mess, you may want to try a reusable pouch. I put yogurt in those because I can't handle the mess that comes with the spoon flinging with yogurt on it. I let D handle the spoon with items that are less soupy and when I have more time and patience.

TJ1979 · September 2013

So maybe it's an attitude issue, because @amandaleigh1 we had been using pouches, but this weekend she decided it was more fun to just squeeze all of the applesauce out of the pouch than it was to eat them. Maybe she's just going through a phase. This too shall pass, right?

amandaleigh1 · September 2013

Ha, ha! I do think it must be attitude

D's got some major attitude as well. I won't even let him have a plate or bowl as he is still perfecting his throw. I am also trying to keep my cool when his eating habits and preferences suddenly change for no apparent reason.

RoseHQ12 · September 2013

The joys of feeding

DD does this on occasion but usually it's because she wants to self feed so for us I think it's a control issue.

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