Chicago Tongue-Tie Center Blog

As a new parent, you’re excited to share a special bond with your little one, especially because you plan on breastfeeding. While some blog posts or well-meaning friends say it’s the most natural thing in the world, you seem to struggle. The baby doesn’t latch on properly, and your nipples hurt. You don’t know what to do, frustrating you both.

Before you switch permanently to bottles, consider this: your problem may not be your technique—your baby could have a tongue tie impairing your ability to nurse.

You’ve done everything the lactation specialist said you should do, and your newborn baby is still not latching properly. As a parent, you naturally start to worry that you’re making a mistake somehow.

Stop! It may not be something you’re doing at all. It could be an issue with your baby’s mouth.

Most people have a small amount of tissue connecting the lips and tongue to the rest of the oral cavity. However, for some people, predominantly children and infants, this connective tissue (which is called a frenulum) is extra thick or short, restricting movement. But you’re not a pediatric dentist! How can you tell whether your child has this problem? Here are some symptoms to look for that could indicate a lip or tongue tie.