Feeding your baby can take time to find its rhythm. Some days feel easy, while others leave you wondering whether something is making feeding harder than it should be.

You may notice that your baby struggles to latch, frequently slips off during feeds or makes clicking sounds while sucking. Perhaps feeds are taking a long time, your baby seems unsettled afterwards, or breastfeeding has become uncomfortable for you.

These signs can sometimes be associated with a tongue tie.

Tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, occurs when the lingual frenulum — the band of tissue beneath the tongue — restricts the tongue’s movement. However, not every baby with a tongue tie will have feeding difficulties, and these signs can also have other causes.

The important thing is to look at your baby’s feeding as a whole.

When feeding feels harder than expected

Newborn feeding takes practice. Babies are learning, and parents are learning alongside them. But if feeding repeatedly feels like a struggle, it is worth paying attention.

You might notice that your baby has difficulty staying attached, seems to work very hard during feeds or takes much longer than expected to finish. Perhaps your baby becomes frustrated, tired or unsettled before the feed is over.

These signs do not automatically mean tongue tie. They simply suggest that something about feeding may not be working as comfortably or effectively as it could.

Look for patterns, not just one sign

A single feeding behaviour rarely tells the whole story.

For example, an occasional clicking sound may not mean anything is wrong. Your baby may sometimes come off the breast simply because they are tired, distracted or still learning.

But if you notice several feeding difficulties happening repeatedly, it may be worth having a closer look.

You might notice a combination of:

• Difficulty staying latched
• Frequent loss of suction
• Clicking during feeds
• Long or tiring feeds
• Milk leaking from the mouth
• Frequent relatching
• Unsettled feeding

The pattern matters more than any one sign.

Your baby’s latch may tell you something

A comfortable, effective latch can help your baby feed efficiently.

Some babies who have restricted tongue movement may struggle to latch deeply or maintain their attachment. They may repeatedly slip off the breast or need to relatch throughout a feed. You may find yourself helping your baby attach again and again. For some families, this can make feeding feel exhausting.

A difficult latch can have many causes, though, so it does not automatically point to tongue tie. Positioning, attachment and other aspects of feeding can also play a role.

The important thing is to notice whether the difficulty is happening consistently.

Listen to the little sounds

Sometimes, you can hear that feeding isn’t quite going smoothly.

Clicking or smacking sounds during feeding may occur when a baby is struggling to maintain suction.

For some babies, restricted tongue movement can contribute to this difficulty. But clicking isn’t specific to tongue tie. It can happen for other reasons too.

If you regularly hear clicking alongside other feeding concerns, it can be useful to mention it when discussing your baby’s feeding with a healthcare professional. Those little sounds may be one piece of a much bigger picture.

When feeds take a long time

Every baby feeds at their own pace. Some babies are quick feeders, while others naturally take longer. The concern is more about a consistent pattern of feeds that seem unusually long, tiring or difficult.

A baby who is having trouble maintaining suction or coordinating feeding may need to work harder to take in milk.

You may notice that your baby feeds for a long time but still seems unsettled afterwards or wants to feed again very soon.

Long feeds don’t confirm a tongue tie, but they can be worth discussing if they happen regularly.

When your baby keeps coming off

Does your baby latch, feed for a short time and then suddenly come off?

Do they repeatedly lose their attachment and need help getting back on?

Occasional relatching is normal. Babies can pause, move or lose their position during feeds.

But frequent slipping off can sometimes suggest difficulty maintaining an effective latch or suction.

Restricted tongue movement may be one possible reason, although there are other explanations.

If this is happening at many feeds, your baby’s feeding may benefit from a closer look.

Signs you may notice after feeding

The signs aren’t always limited to the feed itself. After feeding, your baby may seem tired, unsettled or frustrated. You may feel that they haven’t fed as comfortably or effectively as you expected.

Some babies may want to feed again soon after what seemed like a long feed. Again, these behaviours can occur for many reasons.

Babies have different feeding patterns, and wanting to feed frequently is not automatically a sign of a problem.

What matters is the overall pattern and whether you have ongoing concerns about how your baby is feeding.

Your experience matters too

Sometimes, the first signs are noticed by the breastfeeding parent.

You may experience nipple pain or soreness during feeds. Your baby may repeatedly lose their latch, or you may find yourself adjusting their position throughout the feed. You may also feel that feeding is taking a lot of effort for both of you.

Breastfeeding can take time to establish, and some discomfort can occur as you and your baby learn together. But persistent or significant pain deserves attention.

There are many possible causes of breastfeeding pain, so pain alone does not mean your baby has a tongue tie. Your experience is still important information.

Changes in your baby’s tongue movement

You may notice that your baby’s tongue doesn’t seem to move as freely as you expected.

Perhaps it appears difficult for your baby to lift or extend their tongue, or you have noticed a noticeable band of tissue underneath it. These observations can understandably make you wonder about tongue tie.

However, the appearance of the tissue beneath the tongue does not tell you by itself whether a baby has a functional problem. A frenulum can look prominent without causing feeding difficulties.

Equally, feeding difficulties should not be dismissed simply because a tongue tie is not immediately obvious.

Looking at how the tongue functions during feeding is much more useful than focusing on appearance alone.

A tongue tie isn’t always obvious

Tongue tie does not look exactly the same in every baby. The frenulum can vary in its appearance, position and thickness. 

Some babies may have a more noticeable frenulum, while others may have a less obvious restriction. This is one reason it can be difficult for parents to know whether what they are seeing is significant.

Rather than trying to diagnose a tongue tie at home, focus on what you are actually noticing during feeding.

Is your baby able to latch and stay attached?

Can they maintain suction?

Does feeding seem comfortable?

Are feeds consistently difficult or tiring?

These questions can help provide a clearer picture.

Getting a clearer picture

If you’re concerned about your baby’s feeding, a healthcare professional can look at the bigger picture rather than focusing on one sign.

This may include your baby’s tongue movement, latch, suction and feeding pattern, as well as their growth and overall wellbeing.

A feeding assessment may also help identify other factors that could be making feeding difficult.

Most importantly, having a tongue tie does not automatically mean that something needs to be done.

The key question is whether restricted tongue movement is affecting your baby’s ability to feed comfortably and effectively.

If feeding is consistently difficult, asking for support can help you understand what may be contributing.

Conclusion

A tongue tie can affect feeding for some babies, but the signs are not always obvious — and they can overlap with other feeding difficulties.

Your baby may struggle to latch, repeatedly come off, make clicking sounds, lose suction or take a long time to feed. You may also experience ongoing discomfort during breastfeeding. None of these signs can confirm a tongue tie on their own.

What matters is the pattern.

If feeding continues to feel difficult, you don’t have to work out the reason by yourself. A careful assessment can help you understand your baby’s individual feeding needs and whether restricted tongue movement may be part of the picture.

At Tiny Tusk Paediatrics, we take the time to listen to your concerns, understand your baby’s feeding and look at the whole picture.

Because sometimes, the little things you notice can be the beginning of understanding what your baby needs.

Frequently asked questions

What are the signs of tongue tie in a baby?

Possible signs include difficulty latching, slipping off the breast, clicking sounds, difficulty maintaining suction and long or tiring feeds. These signs can also have other causes.

Does a tongue tie always affect feeding?

No. Some babies with a tongue tie feed comfortably without noticeable difficulties. The important question is whether restricted tongue movement is affecting feeding.

Can tongue tie cause a baby to keep coming off the breast?

It can contribute to difficulty maintaining a latch or suction for some babies. However, frequent relatching can have other causes as well.

Is clicking during breastfeeding a sign of tongue tie?

Clicking can occur when a baby has difficulty maintaining suction, and restricted tongue movement may be one possible contributor. Clicking alone does not confirm tongue tie.

Can tongue tie cause long feeds?

It may contribute to inefficient feeding in some babies, which can result in longer or more tiring feeds. However, babies naturally have different feeding patterns.

Can tongue tie cause breastfeeding pain?

Restricted tongue movement may contribute to latch difficulties and nipple pain in some cases. Breastfeeding pain can also have many other causes.

Can I tell if my baby has tongue tie by looking at their tongue?

Not reliably. The appearance of the frenulum does not necessarily show whether it is restricting function. Tongue movement and feeding should also be considered.

When should I have my baby’s feeding assessed?

If your baby consistently struggles to latch, maintain suction or feed comfortably, or you are experiencing ongoing breastfeeding difficulties, speaking with a healthcare professional can help you understand what may be contributing.