Your baby's tongue: what is normal and what is not

Milk residue, thrush, tongue-tie and colour changes in newborns and infants: how to tell them apart, how to clean a baby's tongue gently, and when to call your paediatrician.

• Why does my baby keep sticking their tongue out?An infant sticking their tongue out is usually normal. Babies are born with a tongue-thrust (extrusion) reflex that pushes the tongue forward to protect...
• Why is my baby's tongue yellow?An infant yellow tongue is most often milk residue: colostrum, the first breast milk, is usually yellow or orange, and any milk coating can look yellowish...
• Why does my toddler have a white tongue?A toddler white tongue is usually a harmless coating from milk drinks, a cold, a blocked nose that makes them breathe through their mouth, or not drinking...