I am not convinced that allergy is a major cause of abberant tongue
movements in sucking.  Some kids scratch their palates with the tongue
when not feeding because the palate is itchy from an allergen (have
experienced this personally).  But, the MAIN reason for clamping suck is
tongue retraction because the tongue over the lower gum INHIBITS THE BITE
REFLEX.  Tongue is not forward, bite reflex is not inhibited, kid
clamps. Yes, I am shouting.  Remember the one of the main rules of
animal behavior, folks...Occam's Razor- the simplest explanation is
usually the correct one.
        In this particular case, suspect a tongue-tie/short frenulum or a
low tone tongue.  The flicking of the tongue tip on the nipple is classic
with a short frenulum, as the baby cannot simultaneously maintain tongue
elevation AND extension, so the tongue recoils, snapping on the nipple,
then the nipple contacts the gum and the baby clamps.
        Low tone can cause clamping for similar reasons.  The tongue is a
bundle of many muscles.  If they are hypotonic, it takes much more effort
for the child to contract those muscles, making fatigue likely.  Once the
tongue fatigues, the child uses more jaw compression to milk the breast.
 There is a complementary relationship between the tongue and jaw.  If
one is not doing it's job, the other will attempt to take up the
slack...but the resultant suck pattern will not be as efficient or as
comfortable for mom.
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC  [log in to unmask]