TONGUE TIE INFORMATION
Everything you need to know
WHAT IS TONGUE TIE?
Tongue-tie is sometimes referred to as ankyloglossia and it is caused by a short, restrictive lingual frenulum. This is a strip of skin connecting the baby's tongue to the floor of their mouth which can sometimes be visible when your baby opens their mouth.
Tongue tie affects around 1 in 10 babies and around half of these babies will struggle to feed due to restricted tongue movement and inability to latch onto a breast or bottle.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TONGUE TIE?
Your baby may have a visible frenulum and may struggle to lift or move their tongue freely. You may notice that they find it difficult to latch to a nipple or bottle, are uncomfortable when feeding, are messy or noisy feeders. If you are breastfeeding, you may find feeding painful.
HOW CAN TONGUE TIE AFFECT FEEDING?
It is possible for a baby with a tongue tie to feed without causing any problems. However, reduced tongue function in babies with tongue tie can cause ineffective milk transfer, wind, colic, and poor weight gain. If you are breastfeeding, your baby may get tired at the breast and feeds may become short and frequent which can cause exhaustion for the parent.
WHAT IF I SUSPECT MY BABY HAS A TONGUE TIE?
If you suspect your baby has a tongue-tie, it is important to discuss this with your midwife or Health Visitor in the first instance and gain feeding support. Sometime this is enough to resolve symptoms. However, if feeding support has not been effective, then get in touch with us for a thorough assessment.