When Your Baby Has Tongue-Tie Symptoms

A tongue-tie is the condition in which the skin under the tongue is tighter or shorter than normal. This piece of skin is called the frenulum and it provides stability for the tongue. It is not always easy for parents to tell if their little one has tongue-tie since not all tongue-ties are visible. There are signs and symptoms you can look for which can indicate a problem.

Signs and Symptoms of Tongue-Tie

When breastfeeding, your baby may come on and off the breast. You may also hear a clicking sound when the baby is sucking. If your baby becomes tired during feeding sessions or has little or no weight gain, there could be a problem with tongue-tie.

Breastfeeding mothers may also notice some issues like nipple pain while the baby is breastfeeding. If your nipple looks pinched or creased when the baby comes off the breast, it could be a sign of tongue-tie. Low milk supply and/or blocked ducts or mastitis can also be indicators of tongue-tie.

Bottle fed babies may swallow a lot of air or get tired before finishing. You may also notice your baby dribbles and has leaking milk around their mouth.

Although these are signs and symptoms of tongue-tie, many babies feed well without problems and still have tongue-tie. However, if you feel that your baby may be having problems feeding due to this or some other condition, you should seek medical help as soon as possible.

What To Do If Your Baby Has Tongue-Tie

If you suspect your baby has tongue-tie, you should get an assessment. Newborns have multiple screenings for a variety of issues, but tongue-tie is not usually one of them. You can ask for such an assessment to be done but unless the person doing the assessment has training in what to look for specifically, the chances are your healthcare professional may not be able to determine conclusively if tongue-tie is indeed present.

At the South Carolina Tongue Tie Center, our professionals have the training and experience to correctly diagnose and treat tongue-tie in infants. If you perceive a problem with your baby, give us a call and schedule an appointment for an assessment.