Tongue protrusion is a characteristic of Down syndrome, however a person cannot be diagnosed with Down syndrome if they only have tongue protrusion. If your pediatrician finds one of these things, they should then try to see if there are other characteristics that fit into a syndrome or diagnosis.Ī syndrome means that there is a cluster of characteristics that are found together. Several things can give this appearance, a true large tongue, a small mouth, growths/masses around the tongue, muscle tone and mouth breathing. The reason the tongue protrudes, other than as a natural reflex, is that the tongue is or appears large. (Don’t you just love how kids like to keep things interesting?) In other words, your child could simply be sticking their tongue out, just because they like to stick it out. It usually disappears with time, around 4-6 months when it is time to spoon feed. I feel that I must emphasize that tongue protrusion is a completely normal (or as we like to say typical) finding in infants. In fact, there are multiple reasons that a child’s tongue could be sticking out. Just because it seems as if your child sticks their tongue out “ all the time” does not automatically mean your child has Down syndrome. “Does my child have Down syndrome if they constantly stick out their tongue?”īe sure to sign up for our email updates to first the first to know when we publish a new post! Enter your email address: Since tongue protrusion is one of the Characteristics of Down syndrome, new parents often ask, It is when the tongue sticks out beyond the lip border for all to see. Sticking your tongue out is better known as tongue protrusion.

“My baby sticks their tongue out all the time!”Īs a pediatrician this is a common concern I hear from parents of newborns. Why does my child always have their tongue out?

Tongue out smoovie baby