As a loving and devoted parent, you eagerly watch your baby’s every move and cherish each milestone they achieve. Like adults, they are prone to diseases and conditions that could hamper their growth and development.
One such condition that is common in babies is tongue tie or ankyloglossia. This condition affects the thin tissue called the lingual frenulum, which connects the baby’s tongue to the floor of the mouth.
As they grow, the tissue is supposed to become thin to ease tongue movement as the baby breastfeeds, eats and swallows food, and learns to talk. However, this tissue thickens in a baby with a tongue tie, thus limiting tongue movement.
Read: What to Expect in Tongue Tie Revision Treatment in Babies?
Read: 5 Methods for Feeding Your Baby Affected by Tongue Tie
How to Tell if Baby Has Tongue Tie
Recognizing the subtle signs of tongue tie is crucial for timely intervention and support. Take your child to a pediatrician if you identify the following symptoms and signs.
1- Difficulty Latching When Breastfeeding
Difficulty latching when breastfeeding is one of the primary signs of tongue tie. Due to the thick lingual frenulum, the baby struggles to attach its tongue to the breast nipple, resulting in shallow latches or frequent slips.
As a result, the milk transfer from the mother to the baby is hampered. Pay attention to your baby’s latch and seek help from a professional lactation consultant if you notice they struggle to suckle.
2- Prolonged Feeding Sessions
Babies with tongue ties often take longer to feed compared to others. Despite the extended feeding sessions, they often appear unsatisfied and feel hungry shortly after breastfeeding. This problem is caused by their inability to suckle milk from the mother’s breast.
Prolonged feeding also results in exhaustion and nipple soreness for the mother. Observe the baby’s feeding patterns and consult a pediatrician or lactation consultant to be sure their breastfeeding sessions are normal.
3- Inadequate Weight Gain
Tongue ties affect the baby’s weight gain due to inadequate milk intake during feeds. Monitoring your baby’s weight gain and consulting a professional pediatrician or lactation specialist will ensure they receive proper nutrition and address the condition early.
4- Challenges with Bottle Feeding
Babies with tongue ties also struggled to create a proper seal around the bottle nipple. This problem results in milk leaking from the corners of their mouth and excessive air intake.
It’s worth investigating the possibility of tongue tie if you notice such difficulties during bottle-feeding sessions.
5- Restricted Tongue Movement
Due to the thick skin that connects the tongue to the base of the baby’s mouth, tongue movement is restricted.
Signs of restricted tongue mobility include difficulty extending their tongue past the lower lip, moving it sideways, or sticking it out fully.
6- Speech and Language Development Concerns
The child will develop speech and language challenges if the tongue tie problem is not detected early and treated. They include speech delays and challenges pronouncing names with consonant sounds like “t,” “d,” “I,” and “s.”
Read: What You Need to Know About Lip Tie Revision?
What Should You Do?
If you notice any of the detailed signs mentioned above, seek professional evaluation from a pediatrician or lactation consultant.
Tongue Tie Phoenix is a team of professional, licensed, and experienced pediatricians who specialize in treating tongue ties in newborns and young children.
We take pride in providing holistic healthcare services and maintaining a high level of professionalism. Support your baby’s well-being by booking an appointment today.
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