Share Extrusion reflex in the baby: what is it and when does it lose itSubscribe to Babies and moreReceive an email a day with our articles:One of the reflexes with which the baby is born, known as primary reflexes or innate reflexes that gradually disappear in the first months of life, is the so-called 'extrusion reflex'.It is a survival mechanism that leads them to push with their tongue anything they notice in their mouths other than the bottle nipple or the mother's breast.Its mission is to prevent solid elements from entering the digestive tract, since up to six months it is exclusively fed milk, either breast milk or formula.Some babies have a very marked extrusion reflex, which causes them to gag or forcefully spit out the pacifier when we put it in their mouth, or the spoon if we try to feed them.The extrusion reflex progressively disappears naturally between approximately four and six months.This milestone will allow you to accept solid foods when you begin complementary feeding.Before starting to offer the baby foods other than milk, either in the form of crushed foods or through Baby-Led Weaning, we must make sure that the baby has lost the extrusion reflex, although it is more than likely that the first spoonfuls will return. to get food out of the mouth.Many times this reflex is interpreted as a sign that the baby does not like the food in question and rejects it, but as we can see it is an automatic movement.When this reflex disappears, in a natural way, the little ones are able to carry the food to the back of the oral cavity and finally swallow it.That is why it is important that at the beginning, they are offered soft foods that can be melted in the mouth and swallowed easily.In addition to the chronological age, which is six months in full-term babies and the corrected age in premature babies, it is important that the baby meets certain maturational requirements:What if she has served six months and not lost her?Each baby has its own rhythm and you have to take into account her own individualities.If she was born early or later for some issues, it is absolutely normal.Surely it will in the coming weeks, but if you are concerned, do not forget to consult with the pediatrician.In short, the extrusion reflex is an innate reflex of the baby by which he pushes out with his tongue whatever is different from the nipple or teat.Once this reflex has disappeared, the baby can begin to introduce solid foods from six months of age.Share Extrusion reflex in the baby: what is it and when does she lose itMore Sites You'll LikeSee more articlesIn Babies and more we talk about...