> For example, the
> tongue-thrust reflex generally begins to fade around
> 4-6 months of age, and an infant will gradually
> develop the ability to move a bolus of food to the
> back of the mouth to be swallowed, rather than pushing
> it forward and out over the chin.
>
> Am I totally off base here, or does this make it
> obvious, from a physiologic standpoint, that human
> infants are not meant to take in anything thicker than
> human milk until this reflex recedes...?

Unfortunately, so many people think it is "normal" for a baby to spit
out everything you put in their mouth, and to have to wipe 3/4 of the
cereal/puréed foods off the baby's chin.

You see people stuffing solid food in a 2 week old baby's mouth and then
shoving a pacifier in behind it so that the baby will swallow...on a
regular basis around here!

Fio.

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html