Has you baby been checked for tongue-tie?
By Nicky Bateman, founder of QudoTM.
I’ve often wondered why babies cry and what helpful tips would be available to those of you who might be struggling RIGHT NOW with an unsettled, crying baby and feeding difficulties. If your baby isn’t feeding or is unsettled, it can be stressful, tiring, and emotionally exhausting to figure out how to help your lovely new bundle of joy.
Over the years I have been asking those I talk to in my Qudo research for top tips and advice they can pass on to parents whose baby is’t feeding. Their response have been so interesting so I wanted to share them below.
Get your babies checked for any tongue-tie restrictions
A staggering 83% of the babies recently seen by a Paediatric Chiropractor and a Health visitor based in Godalming, Surrey with feeding and persistent crying, colic and discomfort have had a tongue-tie.
A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition present at birth that can restrict the tongue’s range of movements. This is thought to be a result of both genetic and environmental factors. The lingual frenulum is normal anatomy and usually separates before birth, allowing the tongue to move freely. With a tongue tie, an unusually short, thick or tight band of tissue (lingual frenulum) can tether the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth. However, if the membrane is attached further back, the tongue may look normal. This may interfere with feeding. If a baby is unable to move its tongue into the right position, they might chew instead of suck on the end of the nipple, causing pain for the mother and affecting the baby’s ability to get breastmilk. In bottle-fed babies, they may be slow to feed or dribble milk during a feed. Read more in the recent BBC news article
Tongue-tie can impact the baby’s oral development
…including the way they can eat, speak and swallow. Research suggests that approximately 1 in 10 babies may be born with some membrane under the tongue, but only half display reduced function making breast or bottle feeding difficult.
If your baby isn’t feeding, it could be due to a tongue tie that needs further assessment and a potential division. It is thought that approximately 1 in 20 babies may need a division of their tongue tie.
So, there you have it: If your baby isn’t feeding because it is struggling to latch or feed, getting grumpy, windy, or colicky, or if you are getting sore or flattened nipples after feeding, the root cause might just be an undiagnosed tongue tie. Tongue tie can be easily fixed by a trained professional. It is a quick and simple procedure and only causes temporary discomfort for your baby.
Useful resources:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/tongue-tie/
27 March 2024
