Whether your child is breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or transitioning to solid foods, a lip tie can affect their ability to feed comfortably. This can make feeding take longer, feel frustrating, or lead to more frequent breaks as your child tries to get comfortable. The good news is that by working with a pediatric feeding therapist, your child can build the oral motor strength they need to eat more comfortably as they grow.
What Is a Lip Tie?
A lip tie happens when the small piece of tissue under the upper lip, called the labial frenulum, is thicker or tighter than usual and may restrict the movement of your child’s upper lip. When the upper lip has limited movement and doesn’t lift comfortably, your baby may have trouble creating a strong seal during feeding. Toddlers may have difficulty drinking from a straw or managing textured foods.
Lip ties vary in how restrictive they are, and not all lip ties cause problems. Some children feed well and gain weight without difficulty. Others get frustrated because their lips can’t maintain suction or stay latched, which can leave them dissatisfied or gassy after meals. A lip tie can also affect your child’s ability to shape early sounds that require lip closure, such as “mmm,” “buh,” and “puh.”
Does a Lip Tie Need Treatment?
A medical provider can diagnose how much the lip tie restricts movement and, in some cases, may recommend a release procedure. This is a quick medical treatment designed to free the lip and improve comfort and mobility.
Feeding therapists support children who do not need a release procedure, and they also help children after a release. Therapy focuses on helping your child use their mouth comfortably, explore new textures, and move more easily from one feeding stage to another.
In many cases, feeding therapists also work with children before a release procedure to assess feeding skills and oral motor function and to ensure families are prepared for the follow-up care required after the procedure. This preparation helps support successful outcomes if a release is recommended.
Signs of a Lip Tie
Parents often notice the following signs during feeding:
Newborn Signs (0 to 3 months)
- Having difficulty latching to the breast or bottle
- Getting fussy or frustrated during feeds
- Making clicking or smacking sounds during sucking
- Leaking milk from the sides of the mouth
- Taking a long time to feed without clear satisfaction
- Swallowing air and becoming gassy
Baby Signs (3 to 12 months)
- Gaining weight slowly because milk transfer is difficult
- Frequently pausing or stopping mid-feed
- Coughing or sputtering as they drink
- Falling asleep before finishing a bottle
Toddler Signs (12 months to 3 years)
- Making meals messy due to limited lip closure
- Finding it difficult to drink from straws or open cups
- Avoiding thicker or chewier textures
- Breathing through the mouth or drooling
- Finding it difficult to make sounds such as “mmm,” “buh,” and “puh”
Ways to Support Your Child at Home
As a parent, there are simple techniques you can try to make mealtimes easier and more satisfying for your child. Small changes can make a big impact on how comfortable your child feels while feeding and how confident you feel supporting them.
- Try different feeding positions: Some babies feed more comfortably when their head and chest are slightly elevated. Others do better when held more upright or supported along the cheeks. These small adjustments can make latching feel more secure for your child and less stressful for you.
- Use paced feeding: Frequent pauses give your child time to swallow, breathe, and rest. This can reduce fatigue and help them stay calmer during meals.
- Explore textures slowly: If your child is beginning solids, let them explore at their own pace without pressure. Touching food with their hands, smelling it, or taking tiny tastes all count as progress toward more confident eating.
- Offer your toddler different ways to drink: Some toddlers prefer straw cups, while others do better with small open cups. Give them the option to practice skills in a way that feels safe and familiar.
- Watch for stress cues: A calm break during feeding often helps more than encouraging “just one more sip” or “one more bite.” Responding to their cues helps keep mealtimes more relaxed.
If your child is still not feeding comfortably after trying these strategies, a pediatric feeding therapist can help you explore what’s going on and guide you through the next steps at your child’s pace.
How Feeding Therapy Helps Children With a Lip Tie
Feeding therapists help your child learn the skills they need to eat and drink more comfortably. They look at how your child’s lips, tongue, cheeks, and jaw work together during meals to understand where feeding may feel more effortful. With gentle strategies and age-appropriate guidance, they support your child in building these skills over time.
Feeding therapists support children who do not need a release procedure, and they also help children after a release. With time and gentle guidance, children can learn to use their new lip movement comfortably during meals.
When a release procedure is part of a child’s care plan, feeding therapists often see children both before and soon after the procedure. This allows therapists to support proper healing, help reduce the risk of reattachment, and guide families through post-procedure care so children can use their improved lip movement effectively during feeding.
Because feeding happens many times a day at home, parents are an essential part of therapy. Therapists share strategies with you so you feel confident supporting your child during daily mealtimes.
Feeding therapy may include:
- Showing you feeding positions that help your child relax and latch more comfortably
- Suggesting bottle nipples or flow rates that match your child’s natural pace
- Offering strategies to reduce coughing, sputtering, or frequent breaks
- Helping you make small changes during meals so your child does not have to work as hard while eating
- Teaching pacing techniques that help make mealtimes less stressful
- Helping your child strengthen the jaw and mouth muscles used for straw drinking, open cups, and early food textures
- Supporting your child after a release procedure so they can learn to use their new lip movement comfortably during meals
Contact Building Futures for Help
If you are concerned that your child is experiencing feeding difficulties due to a lip tie and you are in the Monroe or Ruston, LA areas, call one of our locations or fill out our online form to schedule an evaluation with one of our feeding therapists. We look forward to helping your child feel more comfortable and confident during meals.
