any way at all to stop baby pushing food out with her tongue

Elaine - posted on 12/08/2010

I notice this is an older post topic but Im wondering how your daughter is feeding now my 15-month old son has similar problem he has a very strong gag reflex he loves his pureed food and some lumps but if there too big he gags then refuses to try that food again its almost like he doesn't know how to use his teeth (although he doesn't mind biting mum on the leg!!)Also wondering if this caused any developmental problems with her speech as I am aware from doctors & speech pathologists that the chewing motion is important for speech development

Liz - posted on 08/13/2009

My daughter is 15 months and she is just starting to be able to eat solid things like Cheerios without gagging. I think the "be patient" motto works. Many times we freak out because our children arent on the same schedule that all the experts seem to put them on. Eventually, children pick up what they're supposed to do when they are ready to do it. :)

Angelica - posted on 08/11/2009

omg! my sons is 19 months now and still pushes food out of his mouth ever so often. he started pushing out any and all food with any consistency from the very beginning of eating solids. i think it's just a matter of time. just purée until they feel like swallowing. i still puree his food sometimes.

Meneka - posted on 08/08/2009

My son did this. I found that if you put the spoon to the back of the tongue it helps. After a few feedings, my son started to eat better.

Heather - posted on 08/08/2009

My bff's daughter, my cousin's son, and my nephew all did this...they did not like the texture of certain foods. You can try adding water or cereal to different foods to change the texture and flavor to see if this help, it did with the boys but my bff's daughter, she just got used to the foods and stopped on her own.

Mel - posted on 08/08/2009

sorry if i have slow responses new admin keeps blocking my posting rights but appreciate all help hoping my little girl will be fine within 6 months or so this has gotten dragged out too long

Mel - posted on 08/08/2009

thanks yeah still waiting on docs but my mum has told me to start my own weaning process on monday if there is not one started in other words starving her myself so hopefully they get thier act together

Francesca - posted on 08/07/2009

Melissa, me and my husband have had and still going through the same problems. my stepson has had problems with feeding since he was a baby. he is now 4 and still have a few problems. firstly what we learnt is try not to make it into a big deal, if she doesn't eat what ur giving give her something else. give her lots of different things to try. different textures. my stepson would gag and sick all the time, if there was a lump or some bits in a yoghurt he would sick. stick with what you are doing. i would suggest not putting the food to the back of her throat though, as when she gags she will learn that when mummy feeds me i will sick. i think alot of these feeding problems we have we my ss is all in his head. i mean when he wants to eat he will but if his mind set is not there then he wont.

My stepson also has a tongue tie.maybe because she hasn't had bottles shes had a tube at a young age the mouth has not formed to how it should.and thats why feeding her normal food is taking that little longer. try and make it stress free as well. get messy and play lots of cooking games so she can feel different textures in her hands as well as mouth.

ask any more questions

good luck

Cheryl - posted on 08/07/2009

This is a survival reflux that will slowly diminish as the baby gets older. You just have to do what all of us mother's have had to do, keep the spoon returning to the lips as he forces the food out. It is messy, but that is nature for you!

(the tongue in babies mouths push foreign objects out so it can breathe.)

Phyllis - posted on 08/07/2009

i found that when food wasnt pureed enough. james wont take any lumps at all. it comes back out when there;s a lump but goes down when its nice and smoothe.

Tanya - posted on 08/07/2009

She isn't hungry. She will eat when she is hungry.

Mel - posted on 08/07/2009

hey guys yeah Danielle suggested that still keep forgetting to trial lemon and ice on her mouth again. i do think that might be the key putting food in her cheek as i watch her chew the food up then push it out with her tongue. she is 16 months Matil, but she has a naso gastric tube as well

Matil - posted on 08/07/2009

Hi Melissa,
Is she doing this when she doesn't like the food you're giving her or is it because she is teething and all food is too hard for her to chew on? BTW how old is she? Sorry for all the questions prior to me sending you a response...I am a therapist and wanted to make sure I get some additional info. before I give advice. :)

Susan - posted on 08/07/2009

This may be obvious but have you tried feeding to the inside of the cheek, making sure the tongue is not depressed? She may have an unusually strong gag reflex that's making her push out her tongue when the spoon touches the middle of her tongue. My son has an enlarged tongue and I have had success with this technique. He prefers to suck the contents from the spoon in lieu of letting me insert the food into his mouth but I'm persistent. Good luck!

Mel - posted on 08/06/2009

possible i mean they really thought that she would be eating properly by now but she just doesnt get how. i need to really remember to do the lemon and ice on her lips and see how that goes. i have been completely forgetting. i am getting a new OT she will probably only have one more visit to this one then go to the new one at the feeding team. they say she doesnt chew properly the say she only chews up and down. i am not sure cause im no expert on that. oh and also in respons eto another post, things that disolve dont come out! which is really good for her to get something down. i australia i dont think we have what you are talking about but i know with chocolate it dissolves and she swallows it, but i cant think of anything else that dissolves.

Donna - posted on 08/06/2009

Is it possible your daughter could have low tone (orally) I know when my son had this he had a tongue thrust and I used to give him a vibrating toy to put in his mouth to stimulate him - after a few trys it began to work. The problem was he couldn't feel the food the way you or I would.

Sarah - posted on 08/06/2009

I am a pediatric Occupation Therapist that deals with feeding issues in child freq. I think she is having some sensory difficulties with textures. If your O.T. doesn't have any better ideas then the one she offered you need a new O.T. Their are lots of things to do to help children overcome these issues.

Tammy - posted on 08/06/2009

Consistancy in feeding her.

Mom of 3

Mom 4 many in foster care.

LORI - posted on 08/06/2009

Melissa, I just read all the other posts. Your baby is just learning and playing. Sounds like you've been dealing with feeding issues for quite some times along with tongue tie. You might want to chalk this up to patience. Go back to the box of patiece and grab a handfull. You obviously are feeding her nutriously and this is all about teaching.



Good luck and stay with it! Try the Gerber fruit chews. They are snacks but melt fast in their mouth, less time for her tongue to get them back out. My little boy is gaggy too. If I stuff ANYTHING it come back out with everything else that went in before it. Goodness I hate that!!! After 5 of those incidences, call me slow, I quit being so pushy! :-)



Be happy she's healthy, one day she'll be eating steak!

LORI - posted on 08/06/2009

Ignore it. The only we reason we feed our babies is to teach them how to use their tongues, teeth, and gums to chew and swallow. They get their nutrition from the formula/milk. When she starts to spit it out help her get it out and give her another piece to try all over again. If yogurt is one item she gets down with no problem try to make sure you give her the Yo Baby brand because 2 containers equates to one whole formula bottle of nutrition a day. If your afraid shes not getting enough talk to your dr. about a vitamin supplement for a little while until she catches up. They've always said children always know what they want and need. We just need to make sure that it's there for them. Don't sweat it. She'll catch on soon enough.

Jodi - posted on 08/06/2009

In that case, I would wait for the pediatrician to call you back. If she is still on tube feeds, there are probably very few people that can help you with such a specialised situation :)



Good luck!

Mel - posted on 08/05/2009

she doesnt intake much because she doesnt swallow she only intakes tiny bits that is the problem and its not something that can really be taught so it appears. her food intake is not even close to help her survive. she only survives due to tube feeding. she does put things in her mouth and attempts sometimes but it usually comes back out. i think it might just be a case of waiting til i can explain to her when she gets older and trying ti put the food into her cheek like Danielle said

Jodi - posted on 08/05/2009

Melissa, if she is self feeding things you are putting in front of her, at 15 months, I wouldn't worry too much that she is pushing things out of her mouth. Is she having a go at everything you have offered and eating a fair bit of it. It sounds to me she is pushing it out of her mouth when you feed her because she would prefer to do it herself. At 15 months, just give her the spoon, seriously! You may be surprised.

Mel - posted on 08/05/2009

yeah shes always had finger food she prefers to self feed she does not let others spoon feed her. when she was 3-6 months she did so well with spoon feeding pureed foods and custards etc and rusks she did ok with, now her typical day of what she is offered would be morning 8am- toast with honey or vegemite and butter, water melon, sliced fruit 180 mills formula, 10.30am rice cracker, 12pm - sand wiche with cheese, cold meats, yogurt, bottle with milk, 180 mills formula, 4pm - rusk with cream cheese 180 mills formula, 7pm - dinner of whatever we are eating - pasta, rice, sausage, steak, vegies, etc offered bottle of water . 8pm - 500 mills over night feed.



is this age appropriate? im still waiting on the docs he is away on another medical conferance thing but told me he emailed a plan last tues but i never recieved anything. once her milk is cut down i will be able to experiment more as she will eat more cause shes hungry.



Katherine - that is ok i appreciate the help



oh another note brianna hasnt had baby food since about 11-12 months and her purees in the freezer do not get touched as i know she would spit them

Katherine - posted on 08/05/2009

Sorry, I just saw how old you daughter is, my 5 month old does it and I thought yours was close to that age. The doctor said it may take weeks before they stop. If she's new to solids, that's totally normal. I think Danielle seems to know a lot more about it though.

Jodi - posted on 08/05/2009

Melissa, what type of solids is she eating. Is it packaged baby food, or do you make your own? I know my daughter hated the packaged baby food......maybe she doesn't like what she is being fed? My daughter went to far as to gag (yes, she deliberately gagged) on baby foods, but was much happier with finger food. Does yours experiment with finger food?

Katherine - posted on 08/05/2009

NOPE :) They all do it-until they get used to it.

Mel - posted on 08/05/2009

Laura - she did have a tongue tie and we got it fixed when she was 3 months (it stopped her from breast feeding she lost weight for 2 weeks) but with formula she was fine. im wondering if that is actualy hindering her since she is using her tongue to push the food out where as before she could not poke her tongue out that far.

Elizabeth shes not new to solids shes been on them for 13 months now. she used to eat well back at 3-6 months whole jars infact. im really not sure what happened

Elizabeth - posted on 08/05/2009

is bub is only new to solids it can take a few weeks for them to learn how to take food & swollow it properly. My 2.5yr old is a shoking eater now he just down right refuses to eat anything, ive been told its apparently just a fase & they'll get over it & move on to something else. we did find that our toddler was wanting to feed himself & then he would eat properly.

Laura - posted on 08/05/2009

My daughter also had a hard time eating baby food . We took her to her pediatritian and he noticed that her tongue was "attached too close to the tip of it,underneath". We took her to the ear, nose and throat doc where they snipped her frenulum (the part under the tongue that "holds" it down). It was a simple procedure done in the office,and she never had a problem eating after that!

Could your daughter have the same prob.?!

Kate - posted on 08/05/2009

From what I have read, it means that the baby is not yet ready for solid foods. They push their tongues out as a nursing reflex.

Tammy - posted on 08/04/2009

I'd take her to a pediatric gastroenterologist, just to be safe. it sounds like you've done a lot. The pedi gastros do a lot with nutrition and can tell you if it's gerd or something else.

Mel - posted on 08/04/2009

thanks girls yeah she is always full when she eats cause she gets no more then 2 hours between feeds of pediasure so always full but shes on this to gain weight so nothing i can do there. i guess i just have to get her eating and keep up with offering the solids just before the milk so she has more chance of being hungry.

Jodi - im waiting on her doctor atm he's meant to be making a plan

Jodi - posted on 08/04/2009

No worries Melissa, sounds like you have a great doctor for her. I just thought given your daughter has the issues she does, it may be best to give him a call :)

Cathralynn - posted on 08/04/2009

Your doing your best by seeking medical help and any other help you can. Now all you can do is keep trying and be open to new things. Hope your daughter's eating troubles get worked out soon. Her pic looks healthy for all these troubles so good job and good luck!

Michelle - posted on 08/04/2009

I would have to say consistency of the food could be your cause. I agree with the other mom who mentioned placing the food in her cheek. I know my daughter (7 months) will push things out with her tongue if she doesn't like them or is full. Does she get a drink with her meals? Could she be filling up on fluids before she tries to eat? If that's the case, maybe try giving her food to her first and the drink after? Good luck and I hope you get everything sorted out!

Mel - posted on 08/04/2009

oh and i could go with another pediatrician but i have one of the best in australia hes very well know not just here but by doctors in others countries so i woudlnt want to change at this point. not many pediatricians offer 24/7 support :) our daughter is very lucky. for her he would be here at 2am if we called him

Mel - posted on 08/04/2009

she has all the medical help she needs i am seeking help on here just incase anyone can help me, i post things and i dont always want to explain the whole situation and i dont feel i need to for a question like this because it is so simple. only asking about her tongue thrust if anyone had any ideas thats all. the medical professionals cant help with this so i thought someone out there might have a clue and turns out Danielle did which i will try soon enough see if it gets down. she has no medical issues however the medical professionals causes her eating troubles a long time ago so reversing them will be hard

Jodi - posted on 08/04/2009

Melissa, I think perhaps you need more help from outside the internet if your daughter is having these issues. You have mentioned previously that she is 15 months?? If you are having a lot of issues with her, and they are medical, I am not sure this is necessarily the best place to get help. I don't mean any offence, but most children your daughters age are able to drink from sippy cups, and able to drink from straws. If there are issues that are outside the normal range, you may need to get it checked out. I know you have issues with doctors, but maybe you just haven't had the right one???? Not all doctors know everything about everything. Is your daughter under the care of a pediatrician? Give him a call.

Mel - posted on 08/04/2009

she spits everything from a cup unfortunately and when i use a straw

Cathralynn - posted on 08/04/2009

Whatever you'd like, but I meant in a cup. Its different for them to take in fluids without having to suck and keep that liquid in their mouths and then swallow. May help her learn to move foods around her mouth and swallow as well. I did water and then also made my daughter familiar with cups so dropping bottles wasn't that hard for her.

Mel - posted on 08/04/2009

thanks i gave her a bottle tonight when she started choking it did help her actually and because i thought chocolate might make her thirsty she doesnt have it very often. its just annoying wish she didnt have such a strong gag reflex

Cathralynn - posted on 08/04/2009

When my daughter was starting finger foods and she had trouble swallowing, mostly stuff caught in her throat making her cough, I gave her a drink of water to help her clear her own throat. Not the same thing I know, but might help her swallow a lil? Good luck.

Mel - posted on 08/04/2009

thanks ladies. and couldnt try that yet Danielle, putting the food in her cheek cause tonight she had chicken with mayo, chips and chocolate for dinner not too healthy but when she has pasta etc i will see how she goes ta xx

Evette - posted on 08/04/2009

try different foods. the baby probably doesn't like what you are feeding her. Check with the pediatrician though.

Kristin - posted on 08/03/2009

I realize you have probably already done this, but make sure to ask your pediatrician about this.

Amy - posted on 08/03/2009

she is probally not ready for solids, try her again in a couple of months

Danielle - posted on 08/03/2009

I try. I am a teacher in an early start child development center so I've seen many different children and their cognitive and social development. I am always glad to give my two cents, but I do believe in a motherly instinct, and that every child is different. So ultimately, you're the know it all. :D

Mel - posted on 08/03/2009

lol i have alot of people working with her so they plan her meals have since she was 2 months. havent tried that though. i will see how she goes. i know some gets down her barium swallow showed that but only minimum amounts. you sound like you really know what you are talking about

Danielle - posted on 08/03/2009

Well it sounds like you've already got a good start. Have you tried putting a small spoonful of rice in her cheek instead of the back of her throat? You may be right and she may just need some time to swish it around and prepare for the swallow, lol. Just and idea. Noticing the consistencies already shows that you've got a good handle on it.