Tongue and Lip Ties: Looking Beyond the Mouth

Anterior and Posterior Tongue Tie Examples

Many parents first hear about tongue and lip ties when they’re struggling with feeding. Maybe your baby makes clicking noises while nursing, swallows air and gets gassy or falls asleep at the breast only to wake hungry again. Sometimes, sleep is restless, or you notice a little head tilt or flat spot that doesn’t seem to go away.

It’s easy to think these challenges are just about the mouth. But tongue and lip ties affect the whole body. When a baby can’t move freely, they find ways to adapt. Those compensations may keep them going in the moment, but over time, they can shape how a child grows, moves, and even how their airway develops.

Gentle Support for the Whole Baby

One of the ways I support babies with ties is through craniosacral fascial therapy (CFT). It’s a gentle, hands-on approach that helps ease tension in the soft tissues and allows the body to feel more balanced. When restrictions soften, babies often feed more smoothly, breathe more easily, and rest more comfortably.

CFT can make a big difference before and after a frenectomy (tie release). Before, it helps the tissues and nervous system prepare. After, it supports healing, assists to prevent re-attachment, and helps the body adjust to new mobility. And sometimes, with the right support, a baby may not even need a release at all.

Learning New Patterns

But releasing tension—whether through therapy or surgery—is just the beginning. Babies also need to discover how to use their tongue, jaw, and body in new ways. That’s where therapy comes in. With guided practice, babies learn to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing, to find a natural resting posture for the tongue, and to move with greater ease. These changes may seem small day to day, but together they open the door to smoother development and more comfort as a child grows.

Timing and Teamwork

Parents often ask, “When is the right time for a release?” The answer isn’t always simple. Too early, and a baby may not be ready to adapt. Too late, and the compensations can be harder to shift. What matters most is thoughtful preparation, good follow-up, and a team approach.

Because no one provider can do it all. Families often find the best support when lactation consultants, therapists, bodyworkers, and medical providers work together. Each one brings a piece of the puzzle, and together they make sure babies are cared for as whole, growing people—not just as a “tie to be fixed.”

The Big Picture

Tongue and lip ties are about more than feeding. They touch breathing, growth, comfort, and regulation. When we look at the whole child and not just the mouth, we give babies the chance to move, feed, rest, and grow with greater ease.

At Warm Heart Parenting, I use craniosacral fascial therapy and pediatric physical therapy to support babies with oral restrictions, easing both the local tightness and the body-wide patterns that come with it. I also connect families with trusted providers across the Boston area, helping build a team that feels right for each child.

Because in the end, it’s not just about releasing a restriction—it’s about helping children thrive.

Dr. Rebecca Turkel is a Licensed Physical Therapist, Craniosacral Fascial Therapist, Certified Early Intervention Specialist, Certified Educator of Infant Massage, Certified in Neonatal Behavior Observation, and Integrative Breastfeeding Educator. 

Dr. Turkel has over 19 years’ experience working with families in an Early Intervention setting as a Developmental Specialist and Physical Therapist as well as 15 years’ experience working at Boston Children's Hospital as a Physical Therapist.