For many parents, scheduling a tongue-tie evaluation feels like a big step.
You’ve probably spent weeks trying to figure out why feeding has been so difficult. Maybe you’ve worked with a lactation consultant. Maybe your pediatrician reassured you everything looked normal. Perhaps a friend suggested your baby might have a tongue-tie, and before you knew it, you found yourself searching the internet late at night trying to make sense of all the conflicting information.
Then comes another question.
“What is this appointment actually going to be like?”
I completely understand that question because, for most families, this is something they’ve never experienced before. They don’t know if their baby will cry. They don’t know if the examination will be uncomfortable. They don’t know if they’re walking into an office that’s already decided their baby needs a procedure. Many parents are nervous for the appointment.
The first thing I want parents to know is this: Take a deep breath. And we try to make it as easy as possible and to cause the least amount of stress as possible for the child and parents.
Our appointment is much more like a conversation than a procedure.
I usually spend the first part of the visit simply getting to know your baby and listening to your concerns. I want to hear what feeding has been like since birth, what’s improved, what hasn’t, and what prompted you to schedule the appointment. Parents often tell me they’re worried they’re talking too much. You’re not.
In fact, some of the most important information I gather comes from those first few minutes. You know your baby better than anyone else, and I’d much rather hear the whole story than have you leave something out because you thought it wasn’t important.
Once we’ve talked, I’ll perform a comprehensive examination. Parents are often surprised by how gentle this part of the visit is. I’m not trying to rush through the evaluation or make a decision in the first thirty seconds. Instead, I’m looking carefully at how your baby’s mouth functions. I’ll evaluate tongue movement, the lips, the palate, sucking patterns, and several other things that help me understand the bigger picture. If you’ve brought a bottle, pacifier, or anything else that helps me better understand what’s happening during feedings, that’s often helpful too.
One of my favorite parts of these appointments is watching the parents’ expressions as we talk through the findings together. So many families tell me, “No one has ever explained it like that before.” Or people think that many of the common baby symptoms like reflux, colic, or gas are “normal.”
Whether I believe your baby has a tongue-tie, another feeding issue, or a combination of several things, I want you to understand what I’m seeing. I think parents make the best decisions when they understand the “why” behind my recommendations rather than simply being told what to do. We spend a lot of time on parent education.
There’s never any pressure to make a decision during the appointment. If I believe treatment would benefit your baby, I’ll explain exactly why. If I don’t think a procedure is necessary, I’ll explain that just as clearly. My job isn’t to convince you to move forward with treatment. My job is to give you the information you need to make the best decision for your child.
At the end of the day, it’s always up to the parents whether we proceed with treatment or wait and see.
If you’ve been putting off an evaluation because you weren’t sure what to expect, I hope this gives you a little peace of mind. Our goal is simply to help you understand what’s going on and answer your questions in a relaxed, unhurried environment.
If you’d like to schedule an evaluation with us, we’d love to meet your family. Send us a message or call us at 205-419-4333, and we’ll help you find a convenient appointment time. We try to get struggling families in ASAP. Whether your baby ultimately needs treatment or not, our hope is that you’ll leave the appointment with clarity, confidence, and a better understanding of how to help your baby feed successfully.
Questions About Your Baby’s Feeding?
Get a professional tongue-tie evaluation and clear answers.
What Happens If I Think Your Baby Would Benefit From Treatment?
This is another question I hear quite often, and I think some parents are surprised by the answer.
If I believe a tongue-tie is contributing to your baby’s feeding difficulties, we’ll spend time talking about why. I’ll show you what I’m seeing during the examination, explain how those findings fit with the symptoms you’ve described, and answer every question you have. I don’t believe anyone should agree to a procedure simply because I recommend it. I want you to understand the reasoning behind the recommendation so you can make the decision that’s best for your family.
We’ll also discuss what treatment involves, what healing typically looks like, and what kind of improvement you can realistically expect. Every baby is different, and I think it’s important to have honest expectations. Some babies improve almost immediately. Others continue improving over several days or weeks as feeding becomes more coordinated. (Babies have their own timeline, and they don’t always do things the way we’d expect.)
The older the baby, the more bad habits, the longer it can take to see symptom improvement. If you notice feeding symptoms from a tongue-tie or lip-tie, the sooner you treat it, the better.
If you decide to move forward with treatment, we’ll also review aftercare and talk about follow-up. One of the things I’ve become convinced of over the years is that great outcomes don’t come from the procedure alone. They come from doing the entire process well, including choosing the right patients, performing a complete release when it’s indicated, providing appropriate aftercare, and following families closely afterward.
What If My Baby Doesn’t Need a Tongue-Tie Release?
Parents are sometimes surprised to hear me say this, but not every baby I evaluate needs treatment.
If I don’t believe a tongue-tie is the primary reason your baby is struggling, I’ll tell you.
Sometimes feeding challenges are related to body tension. Sometimes they’re related to oral motor development, positioning, milk supply, or something else entirely. Occasionally I recommend working with another member of the healthcare team before considering a procedure, and sometimes I simply recommend giving things a little more time.
I never want a family to leave wondering whether they had a procedure they didn’t actually need.
My responsibility is to recommend what I genuinely believe is best for your child, whether that involves a tongue-tie release or not.
Our Goal Is Confidence, Not Pressure
One of the comments we hear most often after an evaluation is, “I finally understand what’s been going on.” That means a lot to me.
Another common one is “I’m so glad I’m not crazy!” Often parents think they are going crazy seeing so many feeding struggles in their baby, and they’ve been told nothing is wrong. Well-meaning providers often don’t understand that less obvious restrictions can cause issues, or they may lack education on tongue-ties and the symptoms they can cause.
Whether families choose treatment, decide to wait, or simply leave with a better understanding of their baby’s feeding challenges, I want them to feel informed rather than overwhelmed. I know how stressful those first few weeks and months with a new baby can be, and I believe parents deserve both honest answers and the time to think through their options.
If you’re considering scheduling an evaluation, don’t worry about having all the answers before you come in. That’s our job. Bring your questions, bring your concerns, and if you have notes from lactation consultants or other providers, feel free to bring those too. We’ll take the time to listen, perform a comprehensive evaluation, and explain everything in a way that’s easy to understand.
If you’ve been searching for answers and are ready to take the next step, we’d love to help. Send us a message or call 205-419-4333 to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Baxter. Our goal is simple: to help you understand what’s happening, determine whether a tongue-tie is contributing to your baby’s symptoms, and recommend the treatment plan that gives your child the best opportunity for success.
Continue Reading
You may also enjoy these articles:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How long does a tongue-tie evaluation usually take?
Every baby is different, but we intentionally allow enough time so the appointment doesn’t feel rushed. We want to answer your questions, perform a thorough evaluation, and make sure you understand our recommendations. Most families are in the office for around 1.5 hours including treatment if needed and time to breastfeed or bottle-feed afterward.
Q2. Will my baby have a procedure at the first appointment?
If treatment is the appropriate next step and the family is ready to proceed, we always save time to perform the release the same day. Other families prefer to take some time to think about their options, and that’s perfectly fine too. It only takes around 10 seconds to release any restrictions (lip, tongue or cheek).
Q3. Should I bring anything with me?
If your baby uses a bottle or pacifier, it’s often helpful to bring those. If you’ve worked with a lactation consultant or another healthcare provider, bringing those notes can also be useful. Most importantly, bring your questions. We want you to leave feeling informed and confident.
Q4. What if another provider told me something different?
That’s okay. One of the goals of the evaluation is to help you understand exactly what we’re seeing and why we’ve made our recommendations. Our priority is helping you make the best decision for your child, not criticizing another provider. We work collaboratively with providers all over the Southeast and can help with letters, referrals, and insurance forms for a possible reimbursement.
Think Your Baby Has a Tongue-Tie?
