30/08/2026
👶🏽 MOUTH ABNORMALITIES IN BABIES: TONGUE TIE & LIP TIE
Have you ever noticed that some babies struggle to breastfeed properly, keep slipping off the breast, or make clicking sounds while feeding? Sometimes, the problem may be related to the small pieces of tissue that connect the tongue or lips to the mouth.
Two conditions parents may hear about are tongue tie and lip tie.
👅 TONGUE TIE (Ankyloglossia)
Tongue tie occurs when the tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth (lingual frenulum) is unusually short, tight, or restrictive. This can limit how freely the tongue moves.
Some babies with tongue tie may have:
* Difficulty latching onto the breast
* Frequent slipping off the breast during feeds
* Clicking sounds while breastfeeding
* Prolonged or tiring feeds
* Poor milk transfer
* Difficulty gaining weight
* A mother experiencing painful or damaged ni***es from breastfeeding
However, not every baby with a tongue tie will have feeding problems, and the appearance of the frenulum alone does not mean treatment is necessary.
👄 LIP TIE
A lip tie refers to a prominent or restrictive upper lip frenulum, the tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum.
A prominent frenulum can be completely normal in babies. What matters is whether it is actually causing functional problems, particularly with feeding. Evidence that an isolated “lip tie” causes breastfeeding problems or requires treatment is much less established than for clinically significant tongue tie.
🍼 What should parents do?
If your baby is struggling with breastfeeding, is not feeding effectively, is losing or failing to gain weight appropriately, or you are experiencing persistent breastfeeding pain, don’t simply assume it is tongue tie or lip tie.
Have the baby assessed by a qualified healthcare professional, ideally someone experienced in infant feeding and breastfeeding assessment. Other causes of poor feeding should also be considered.
Treatment is not automatically required. When a significant tongue restriction is confirmed and is causing persistent functional problems despite appropriate feeding support, a healthcare professional may discuss options such as frenotomy.
❤️ The most important thing is not just how the frenulum looks, but how well the baby can feed and function.
Dear parents, don’t panic when you see a frenulum in your baby’s mouth. Some variations are normal. Get a proper assessment before allowing anyone to cut it.
