Tongue Tie Specialist Ashford Kent

06/05/2026

The sleep industry has a growing problem and it’s one we can’t ignore 😢 A recent BBC News undercover investigation highlighted so-called “sleep experts” giving advice that directly contradicts safe sleep guidance from the NHS and The Lullaby Trust. Some were even stepping beyond their scope as so called ‘sleep experts’ offering assessments and conclusions they are not trained or qualified to make. The reality is there is no regulation of the title “sleep expert.” Anyone can adopt it, regardless of training or clinical background. For exhausted, vulnerable parents, that creates a confusing and at times, unsafe space to navigate (especially when social media popularity is mistaken for professional credibility). And this isn’t unique to sleep 🤦‍♀️ Within infant feeding and tongue tie, we see similar patterns. Misinformation is common:
“Your baby can stick their tongue out, so they’re not tongue tied” not true❗️
“They’ll grow out of it” not supported by evidence❗️
“They’re gaining weight so they’ll be fine” 🤦‍♀️ yet they’re showing all the symptoms of a baby really trying hard to compensate with restricted function❗️
Equally, some babies are being labelled as having a tongue tie based purely on appearance, despite having good tongue function and simply needing time and skilled feeding support❗️Please know that assessment of tongue tie is about function, not just what is visible and it requires appropriate training, skill and clinical understanding. So how do parents know who to trust?
Ask questions of any ‘expert’ or professional giving you advice on your baby:
* What is their training and background?
* Are they accredited or regulated?
* Do they follow current, evidence-based guidance?
A qualified, safe, ethical practitioner will ALWAYS welcome these conversations. And for professionals it is ok not to have all the answers … but it is essential to recognise when something sits outside your scope and to refer on appropriately. Families deserve accurate, evidence-based support and as professionals, we all have a responsibility to stay within our area of expertise. Continued in comments …

02/04/2026

30/03/2026

👅 Too often, what’s labelled as “thrush” in babies isn’t actually thrush at all. When a tongue-tie is present, the tongue’s ability to lift and move effectively is restricted. This means it can’t make proper contact with the palate, which is essential not only for feeding, but also for naturally clearing milk from the tongue. The result is often a white-coated tongue that looks like thrush, but is simply a build-up of milk residue.

Because of this, many families find themselves going through repeated antifungal treatments 🧴with little or no improvement……because the underlying issue isn’t infection 🙅‍♀️, it’s function. True oral thrush typically affects more than just the tongue, often appearing on the cheeks, gums and palate … and can be difficult to wipe away.

When ni**le pain or “thrush” symptoms are also present in breastfeeding parents, it’s important to consider the role of mechanical trauma. A restricted tongue can cause ongoing damage during feeds, increasing the risk of irritation and infection 🤱🏼Addressing the tongue-tie and improving function can often resolve the root cause, rather than just treating the symptoms.

A more holistic assessment of feeding and oral anatomy can make all the difference 💜

08/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day 💜

Every day I have the privilege of supporting incredible women as they navigate feeding and the early days of motherhood.

But none of us do this work alone. I’m constantly inspired by the amazing women I work alongside, lactation specialists, midwives, health visitors, osteopaths, doulas, sleep coaches and so many others who dedicate themselves to supporting families.

To the mothers doing the hardest and most important job of all and to the women who support them every step of the way … today we celebrate you 👩🏼‍⚕️🤰🏼🤱🏼👩🏼‍🍼

Strong women supporting women. Always 💗

26/02/2026

Tongue tie isn’t always obvious at birth.
In fact, many babies with a tongue tie go undetected during the midwife check / the NIPE and there are several reasons for this:

The biggest is that assessment for tongue tie requires a full oral functional assessment not a visual check❗️

Sadly a majority of healthcare professionals have had zero training in tongue tie and tongue tie assessment …
💜 Midwives, health visitors, and pediatricians do amazing work, but tongue tie assessment is not routinely included in their training.
💜 This means restriction may not be recognised nor may symptoms be recognised as clinically significant.

Babies with a tongue tie are incredibly adaptable, often developing subtle compensatory strategies to manage feeding despite their restriction. They may alter jaw, cheek, or lip movements to create a functional (often shallow) latch, swallow more frequently, or extend the duration of feeds to ensure they get enough milk. These adaptations can be remarkably effective, which is why a tongue tie may go unnoticed in the early weeks. However, while these compensations help in the short term, as feeding demands increase or developmental milestones change, the strain from these adaptations can lead to more noticeable difficulties such as
• Longer, tiring feeds or short / frequent feeds.
• Clicking or smacking noises while feeding
• Lip blisters
• Gassiness, reflux, or colic-like symptoms
• Poor weight gain or slow growth / changes to milk supply
• In older children, tongue ties may present as speech difficulties, oral hygiene challenges or sleep difficulties.

💜 Early recognition matters❗️
undiagnosed tongue ties can have cumulative effects.
Early assessment by specifically a Tongue tie specialist - not a practitioner who is unqualified in Tongue tie.

If your baby is experiencing any of the symptoms above, trust your gut and seek early support x

16/02/2026

“Discharged from infant-feeding team.”

That’s what the documentation said.

This mum desperately wanted to breastfeed.
Instead, she was in pain. Cracked ni**les, Toe-curling feeds and therefore moved to exclusive pumping and giving via a bottle for the last week.

She’d already been seen and a posterior tongue tie had been documented.
The plan?
Skin to skin.
Breast compressions.
Discharge … aka ignore 🤦‍♀️

No referral to a tongue tie service.
No acknowledgement that she had moved to exclusive expressing because feeding was simply too painful.

Now this isn’t a reflection on every infant-feeding team, BUT it was the second baby I’ve seen this week that has been seen from the same infant-feeding team. Different practitioner, same team. Even more concerning 🤦‍♀️

I’m so happy for this mum that she sought further help in coming to see me today.

Tongue tie now released
Time, patience and a calm approach =
Back at the breast
Deep latch
Rhythmic sucks
Audible and visual swallowing
Pain free 💜

Just a few hours later and dad has just sent me this photo with a message saying look how happy they both are. Look at them 🥹Calm. Connected. Feeding the way they always wanted to 🤱🏼

Because breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt. 🤍 **les

14/02/2026

Ah yes… the classic:
‘Tongue tie’
‘Lip blisters’
Latch is good and not affecting feeding at all 🤦‍♀️
All in one sentence 🤯
Because apparently we can say there is a tongue tie, list a clear sign of restricted tongue function… and then confidently conclude it’s having zero impact 🙃🤔
This baby is:
• Breastfed with a few bottle top ups
• Coming on and off the breast
• Spilling milk from breast and bottle
• Taking in excess air → colic discomfort
• Causing feeding discomfort for mum
• Has lip blisters

But sure… “not affecting feeding.”

Let’s be clear ❣️
A tongue tie = restricted tongue function 😛
Restricted function = compensation 😬
Compensation = symptoms ☹️

Lip blisters don’t appear for decoration. They’re often a sign a baby is gripping and holding on with their lips because the tongue can’t do its job effectively. The latch may look textbook from the outside, but feeding is about function not just aesthetics 🤱🏼

And suggesting a GP visit for lip blisters? 👨‍⚕️👩🏼‍⚕️What exactly are we hoping for there? A magic cream? A wand? 🧴🪄

GPs are brilliant at many things but assessing functional tongue restriction and its impact on feeding isn’t typically within their scope. No topical treatment is going to resolve blisters caused by compensatory mechanics.

What’s most disappointing here is that an anterior tongue tie was already identified, alongside clear feeding symptoms.
Families deserve more than surface-level reassurance when clear symptoms are present. They deserve thorough assessment, honest conversations, and appropriate onward referral when something sits outside of someone’s scope.

It’s absolutely okay not to know everything, that’s exactly why specialisms exist. Healthcare works best when we recognise the limits of our role and collaborate accordingly 💜 If you attended a GP with heart palpitations, they wouldn’t simply hazard a guess and hope for the best 🫀 they would refer you to cardiology. That’s not incompetence. That’s safe, ethical practice ♥️
So why does this principle sometimes seem to disappear when it comes to tongue tie and infant feeding? 🤷🏼‍♀️
This isn’t about criticising individuals. It’s about raising standards 🙌

25/01/2026

“They can stick their tongue out, so they’re not tongue tied.”
This is one of the most common and most misleading statements I hear❗️

The tongue isn’t a single muscle.
It’s a highly complex structure made up of multiple muscles working together ‼️ Each responsible for different movements, strength and shape.

So while a tongue might manage to protrude past the lips, that tells us very little about how well those muscles are actually functioning.

For feeding to be effective, the tongue must be able to:
• Lift and elevate to the palate
• Shape and cup
• Create and maintain suction
• Rest correctly in the mouth
• Coordinate with the jaw and palate
• Work without tension or compensation
• Work efficiently during feeding

A tongue can appear mobile on the outside but still be restricted underneath. Many tongue ties restrict the deeper muscular function of the tongue.
This is especially true with posterior tongue ties, where limitation affects lift, strength and coordination rather than simple protrusion.

What does that mean in real life?
Often it looks like:
• Ongoing feeding difficulties 🧑🏼‍🍼🤱🏼
• Painful or inefficient feeding
• Clicking, leaking or poor seal
• Reflux-like symptoms or excessive wind
• Long or tiring feeds
• Ni**le pain or damage
• A baby who just doesn’t seem comfortable feeding

👉 Tongue ties are about function, not appearance.
A proper assessment looks at how the tongue’s muscles work together during feeding, not just whether the tongue can come out 👅

This is why a thorough functional assessment by a qualified tongue tie specialist (not your GP, midwife, health visitor or paediatrician) is so important! Assessing how the tongue moves, lifts and works during feeding, not just what it looks like at rest 😛

If feeding feels hard, uncomfortable or exhausting, that matters 💜
And it’s always worth a closer look.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust that instinct 💜
You know your baby best 💜

19/12/2025

The festive period can be a wonderful time, but it can also feel overwhelming if feeding isn’t going as expected. Babies don’t know it’s Christmas, they still need to feed, and parents still need support.

If you’re experiencing pain, poor weight gain, unsettled feeds, or you’re worried about a possible tongue-tie, help is still available. You don’t have to wait until the holidays are over or struggle in silence.

As always my 24/7 contact throughout the Christmas period, with emergency appointments available on Christmas Day and Boxing Day if needed. Whether you need reassurance, advice, or urgent support, you’re not alone.

Feeding challenges can feel isolating, especially at Christmas, but support is here when you need it most 🎄💜

www.tonguetiespecialistkent.co.uk