Once a tongue tie has been identified it’s often recommended that the tissue forming the frenulum be clipped, revised, or released. This it’s not always a magic wand to fixing all of the breast-feeding or bottlefeeding issues that a baby is experiencing. There are three components that need to happen for a baby to be able to effectively feed: strength, range of motion, and coordination of the muscles of the lips, tongue, and cheeks. For a baby that has good strength and range of motion of the tongue but the tie is restricting the ability for the tongue to move in all directions, having the time released often is an overnight miracle cure to many of the issues seen with feeding.

However, for those babies that also have a head turn preferences, low tone or high tension in the body, reduced strength and difficulties coordinating their mouth muscles, just having the ties released alone is not an instant fix. Some may even find that feeding gets worse before it gets better. Other therapies and specialists may need to be seen in order to be able to get feeding back on track and optimal. This may include chiropractors, cranial sacral therapist, physical and occupational or speech therapist as well suck training or oral motor exercises. Make sure whoever you are seeing who feels like you baby is tied is making the appropriate referrals and setting up realistic expectations based on what your baby can and cannot do.