Certain anatomical issues can be associated with tongue sucking or strong tongue tip elevation that can interfere with breastfeeding. When a baby has a very recessed mandible, the tongue does not fit in the lower mouth, and most babies plaster it against the superior alveolar ridge (upper gum ridge) in order to prevent it from falling back into the airway. It can take a few days of fingersucking immediately before attempting to latch to the breast, finger vibration to the tonguetip, or even fingerfeeding before some of these infants learn to depress the tongue when they open their mouths. -- Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC New York City mailto:[log in to unmask] *********************************************** 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