I also agree that fingerfeeding is a very good option for babies with
strong tongue tip elevation.  If the baby is retracting his tongue, a
circular massage on the anterior tongue might help.  If he seems unable
to keep the tongue over the gumline while sucking, he will have a very
hard time latching on and staying on the breast.  If this is the case,
he might have a sneaky tongue tie that is well behind the tongue tip and
gum ridge but very tight.

You can also try "pacifier tug of war".  While he sucks on a
cyllindrical teat pacifier, have mom gently press the nipple tip
downward against his tongue and pull out of his mouth a bit.  Let him
fight to hang onto it, so he can practice grooving his tongue while
sucking.  Mom should exert just enough force to make him work, but not
enough to make him lose it.

And as someone who loves to teach, I second Carol Chamblin's suggestion
that you find a mentor to help with tough cases like this if you at all can.

--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  New York City  mailto:[log in to unmask]

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