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Baby is 8 weeks old, has never really used his tongue correctly. He had jaundice and was started on bottle feeding as a way to supplement, but even before then hadn't really breastfed. He has had a tongue tie revised, mom has done the exercises post procedure, baby is using my preferred bottle (please contact me off list if you want to know which one and why). Baby has seen an osteopath, and continues to see one. Baby also has reflux, and is being treated with medication for this. He does ok on the bottle, but I think that is just because he has a mouth really full of bottle nipple and can create a vacuum, I don't think it is because his tongue is working correctly on a bottle and nothing else. 

Tongue remains it's own beast. Baby will not suck on a soother, a finger, or a breast, regardless of position used. Baby drools excessively (no real peristalsis motion) but has free range of tongue, lift excellent, lateralization beautiful, extension, when it happens, glorious, but no peristaltic motion to the tongue at all.

At this stage I have recommended seeing a speech and language pathologist who works with babies (we are so lucky in our area!) and the feeding and swallowing clinic at a local children's hospital. I also recommended mom look at Catherine Watson Genna's work. 

Any other ideas? I have mom doing the usual frenectomy exercises, but if someone has something else that might work, please let me know.

Usual exercises: sucking on finger with slight downward pressure on back of tongue to encourage extension and peristalsis
                         sliding finger along gum line to encourage lateralization, 
                         sweep under tongue to encourage lift, 
                         touching nose, lips, and chin to encourage full mouth stretch.

Any ideas will be appreciated,

thanks so much
Sonya
who always has one baby who keeps her humble, and this one is the current one!

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