Tongue sucking is a tough one to break.  What happens when you do a suck
assessment?  Can you flip your finger over after baby starts to suck and
"walk" the tongue out?  If you can teach the mom to do this, it sometimes
helps.  Another "trick," if you will, is one which I've only used a few
times.  Feel the soft area under your own chin.  Now try lifting your
tongue up and sucking--feel the difference?  Now, try very gently putting
pressure on the underside soft area of the chin/jaw, and just try to tongue
suck.  Can you do it without it hurting?  This technique may help if the
mother can be taught to use it gently.
Chris

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: )Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC  email: [log in to unmask]  : )
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