Why is my babys upper lip tucked in when feeding?

Understanding Your Baby’s Upper Lip Position During Feeding
When you notice that your baby’s upper lip is tucked in while feeding, it can be concerning for many parents. This phenomenon is often linked to a condition known as lip tie, which can affect how your baby latches onto the breast or bottle.
What is Lip Tie?
Lip tie occurs when the piece of tissue that connects the upper lip to the gums, known as the labial frenulum, is too short or tight. This restriction can limit the movement of the upper lip, making it difficult for your baby to achieve a proper latch during feeding. As a result, you may observe that the upper lip is tucked in, which can lead to feeding challenges.
Impact on Feeding
A proper latch is crucial for effective breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. When the upper lip is tucked in, it can hinder your baby’s ability to create a good seal around the nipple, potentially leading to issues such as inadequate milk transfer, discomfort for the mother, and even nipple pain. Additionally, babies with lip tie may develop suck blisters or experience other signs of latch difficulties, which can further complicate feeding.
Is It a Cause for Concern?
While a tucked-in upper lip can be a sign of lip tie, it is not always a cause for alarm. Many infants exhibit this condition temporarily as they adjust to feeding. However, if you notice persistent difficulties with feeding, or if your baby seems to be struggling to gain weight, it may be worth consulting a pediatrician or a lactation consultant. They can assess whether the lip tie is significant enough to warrant intervention.
Conclusion
In summary, a tucked-in upper lip during feeding can often be attributed to lip tie, which affects the mobility of the upper lip and can impact feeding effectiveness. If you have concerns about your baby’s feeding habits or weight gain, seeking professional advice can help ensure that both you and your baby have a positive feeding experience.

What does a baby upper lip tie look like?

What does a lip-tie look like? Lip-ties look different depending on the severity of the tie: a small, string-like appearance on one end of the spectrum and a wide, fanlike band of connective tissue on the other. The Kotlow classification system uses four grades to rate the frenulum based on appearance.

How should baby’s lips look while nursing?

The top lip isn’t supposed to flange out (turn outwards) while breastfeeding. The idea of fish lips is simply not correct. The upper lip is supposed to sit neutrally on the breast, not turn out.

Why is my baby’s top lip tucked in while breastfeeding?

The top lip isn’t supposed to flange out (turn outwards) while breastfeeding. The idea of fish lips is simply not correct. The upper lip is supposed to sit neutrally on the breast, not turn out.

How common is lip tie in babies?

Lip tie is a condition that occurs in up to 11% of newborn babies. It is a piece of tissue that keeps the upper lip attached to the gum line and makes it difficult for your baby to breastfeed effectively.

What causes a upper lip tie?

When someone is born with a lip tie, the maxillary labial frenum is shorter and tighter than the normal range. This limits the movement of the upper lip. While it’s not certain it is likely genetic. In other words, nothing that a parent did during pregnancy caused the lip tie.

What should a baby’s mouth look like when breastfeeding?

With your baby’s chin firmly touching your breast and their nose clear, their mouth should be wide open. When they attach you should see much more of the darker nipple skin above your baby’s top lip than below their bottom lip. Your baby’s cheeks will look full and rounded as they feed.

What do dehydrated baby lips look like?

You can recognize dry lips in your infant by observing sore, red, and cracked lips, which may even bleed. Additionally, the skin around the lips may appear darker.

Do babies grow out of upper lip tie?

For the most part, if a tongue-tie or lip-tie isn’t causing issues that directly affect the child’s development, the tongue-tie or lip-tie may alleviate itself by stretching as the child grows.

Why is my baby’s bottom lip tucked?

This may suggest the presence of a lip tie. Babies are supposed to have enough flexibility to be able to flange their upper and lower lip out during feeds. If a baby can’t flange their upper lip, this can be due to a lip tie.

How to treat upper lip tie in babies?

Treatment. If a lip tie is making it difficult for your baby to eat, your provider may recommend surgery to correct the tie. An oral surgeon can perform the procedure, known as a frenectomy, either surgically or with laser treatment. The procedure generally takes just a few minutes to complete.