rooting always mean hunger?

[puregrace]

Hi. My lo has been doing a slight modification of classic rooting after she eats. I say a modification because she's sticking her tongue out really far. She is almost 6 mos. We just started giving cereal once a day and she has 5, sometimes 6, liquid feeds (bf) in a 24 hr period. This is happening when I put her in bed for the night. I've been getting her up, assuming she's growing and still hungry, but she's not really eating. I'm pretty sure my supply is still sufficient- she's just not eating after I get her up. She'll continue rooting, though. She doesn't take a pacifier. Has this happened to anyone else? It is so confusing.

[Erin M]

Hi there!  It sounds like she's just trying out some self-soothing behavior, especially if it happens when you're putting her in bed and she's presumably tired.  My LO sucks her tongue when she's tired, you can see her chin moving up and down and it looks like she's nursing actually, but she's not hungry, just sleepy (she still does it at 2.25 years!) - if she goes to sleep if you leave her alone, I would just let it be.

[*Liz*]

And the rooting reflex is going away at this stage, being replaced by learned behaviour instead.

[Jocasta]

"Lizard" tongue is a classic wind cue.  It's in Tracy's first book.  How is she winding?  "rooting" can also be a tired cue.

Let us know how you get on.