Does tongue-tie affect eating solid food?
It might not. The NHS describes tongue-tie as the piece of skin connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth being shorter or tighter than usual. It may cause no problems, but it can make it hard to move the tongue from side to side, lift it up or stick it out. In babies, the NHS describes its effects on breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.
NHS guidance on tongue-tie doesn't cover solid food. A parent leaflet from Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust says it may also cause problems with chewing or swallowing solid food and with clearing food from the roof or back of the mouth. The same leaflet stresses that tongue ties don't always cause a problem, and that feeding difficulties have several possible causes, only one of which is tongue-tie.
When to get help
- Speak to a midwife, health visitor or GP if you think your baby has tongue-tie, or if they're having difficulty breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
- Ask for a feeding check if eating solids often comes with coughing, choking or a wet, gurgly voice, if food keeps falling out or being left in the mouth as textures move on, or if your baby isn't gaining weight as expected.
- After a tongue-tie procedure, contact the team who did it or your GP if you're worried about bleeding, pain or feeding. A small white patch under the tongue the next day is expected and, according to Alder Hey, heals in 24 to 48 hours.
- Call your local emergency number if your baby is choking and can't cough, cry or breathe effectively, and start baby choking first aid straight away.
What to notice at meals
These are things to notice and mention, not a test. Babies vary, and none of these on its own means a tongue-tie is the cause.
| What to watch | Usual while learning | Worth mentioning to a professional |
|---|---|---|
| Moving food around the mouth | Food gradually moves from the front to the back of the mouth; some falls out in the early weeks | Food often stays in one place or keeps falling out as textures move on |
| Lumps and finger foods | Gagging on new textures, which the NHS calls normal while babies learn | Coughing or choking at most meals, or not managing new textures over time |
| Clearing the mouth | A little food left at the end of a meal | Food often left on the roof of the mouth or in the cheeks after eating |
| Milk feeds | Feeds go well alongside solids | Long or very frequent feeds, dribbling, coughing or clicking during feeds, or slow weight gain |
Why tongue-tie can make eating harder for some babies
- Less tongue movement: the NHS says tongue-tie can make it hard to move the tongue side to side, lift it up or stick it out, and babies use their tongue to move food around the mouth.
- Clearing food: Alder Hey's leaflet says tongue-tie can affect the ability to clean food from the roof or back of the mouth.
- Chewing and swallowing: the same leaflet says it may cause problems with chewing or swallowing solid food, while noting that every baby is different and some are not affected at all.
- Ties differ: some are thin and some thicker; some reach the tip of the tongue and others sit further back.
- Other causes: feeding difficulties can come from many things, including reflux, prematurity and sensory issues, so a tongue-tie isn't automatically the reason a baby finds solids hard.
Starting solids with a tongue-tie
Use the usual readiness signs
Look for the same NHS readiness signs as for any baby, all three together from around 6 months; our readiness guide explains each one. Ask your health visitor or GP about timing if your baby was born prematurely or you're unsure.
Set up every meal the same way
Sit your baby upright in a highchair with the harness fastened, stay with them for the whole meal and offer small amounts. With a spoon, wait for them to open their mouth, and stop when they turn away or close their mouth.
Move textures on at your baby's pace
Offer mashed food, then lumps and finger foods, as your baby copes with each one. The NHS explains that this progression is how babies learn to chew and move food around the mouth, and that some need a little longer to get used to each new texture.
Offer soft foods to hold
Soft finger foods that break up easily in the mouth, about the size of your finger, let your baby practise biting and moving food themselves. Use each food's preparation guide for shape and texture.
Note what you see
If something seems hard, write down which textures cause trouble, whether food falls out or is left behind, and any coughing. A short video of a typical mouthful can help a health visitor or speech and language therapist see what you see.
Leave assessment to professionals
Don't try to stretch or exercise the tongue unless a professional who has examined your baby suggests it. Whether a tie needs treatment is decided after a health professional takes a history and examines your baby.
