Let me clarify.  A child/infant whose tongue sticks out of their mouth at
times (especially when they are learning a new task or concentrating) can be
perfectly normal. This is very normal in children with slightly low muscle
tone. Muscle tone is something that doesn't change, it is neurologically set
at birth.(Well, this is actually debated within the therapy community to
some extent). There is a continuum of muscle tone from the highest (people
with tight muscles that cannot be moved voluntarily) to very low tone
(people who can't sit upright because their muscle tone is so low). Either
end of this continuum is the result of some insult to the brain. The rest of
us fall in the middle and may lean toward high tone or low tone. Those of
you who described your infants/toddlers/children who have begun "hanging"
their tongues out of their mouths likely have children with a little low
tone. Nothing to be concerned about. Perhaps the child is just learning to
walk or to grasp toys, or to write his/her name. Not uncommon at all.

It is uncommon and concerning that the infant in question hangs her tonue
out of her mouth to the point that it becomes dry and leathery. This is a
huge red flag. Their may be other medical conditions that I am not aware of
that describe this but it sounds like a sudden onset of a neurological
problem to me. I would be concerned because of the extent that this child's
tongue remains out of her mouth.
Jenny Daup
Occupational therpist, Mother to nursling Seth 2 years and Madeline 4 years,
LLLL

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