One of the questions parents ask me most often is, “Why won’t my baby stay latched?” Sometimes the baby latches beautifully, nurses for a few moments, and then suddenly pulls away. A few seconds later, they try again. Then they pull away once more. Before long, both baby and parents are frustrated.
If you’ve been experiencing this, you’re certainly not alone.
Parents often describe it as a cycle. Their baby latches, sucks a few times, pulls away, cries, latches again, and repeats the process throughout the feeding. Many have already tried different nursing positions, worked with a lactation consultant, or switched bottles. Some have even been told, “They’re just figuring it out.”
Occasionally that’s true. Feeding is a learned skill, and many newborns simply need time and practice.
However, when a baby repeatedly loses their latch during nearly every feeding, I believe it’s worth asking a different question:
Why can’t they stay latched?
A Good Latch Is About More Than Getting Started
Many people think of the latch as the moment the baby first attaches to the breast.
In reality, that’s only the beginning.
A successful feeding requires the baby to maintain suction, move the tongue in a coordinated pattern, swallow comfortably, breathe efficiently, and continue transferring milk until they’re full. If any part of that process isn’t working well, the latch may repeatedly break.
Parents sometimes tell me, “She latches just fine.” Then, a few minutes later, they add, “But she can’t seem to stay on.”
Those are two very different problems.
Why Do Babies Lose Their Latch?
There isn’t just one answer.
Sometimes a baby loses their latch because milk is flowing very quickly. Other babies become overwhelmed by a forceful letdown or struggle with positioning. But over the years, I’ve found that many babies who repeatedly lose their latch have one thing in common: They’re working much harder than they should to feed.
When feeding becomes difficult, babies compensate. They may pull away to catch their breath, reposition their tongue, or simply take a break because they’re tiring out. Parents often notice several other symptoms at the same time.
Their baby may:
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Make clicking sounds while feeding
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Swallow excessive air
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Leak milk from the corners of the mouth
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Feed for a very long time
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Fall asleep before finishing
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Want to eat again shortly afterward
Rarely does a parent describe only one of these concerns. Feeding problems tend to travel together.
Could a Tongue-Tie or Lip-Tie Be Contributing?
Sometimes they can.
One of the biggest misconceptions about tongue-ties is that every tongue-tie is obvious. In reality, some restrictions are subtle. A baby may appear to latch well initially, yet still struggle to maintain efficient tongue movement throughout the feeding.
I also evaluate the upper lip during every feeding assessment. While tongue-ties are more commonly responsible for poor milk transfer, a restrictive lip-tie can make it harder for some babies to maintain a secure seal around the breast or bottle. If that seal repeatedly breaks, the latch often breaks with it.
Less commonly, I also evaluate for restrictive buccal (cheek) ties. Most babies have cheek ties that are completely normal and never require treatment. Occasionally, however, they appear to contribute to feeding difficulties. Because they work together with the tongue and lips during feeding, I routinely assess them as part of a comprehensive evaluation. If they are significantly contributing to the problem, we release them during the same procedure at no additional charge.
The important point is this:
The goal isn’t to find a tongue-tie. The goal is to understand why your baby can’t feed comfortably.
Sometimes the answer is a tongue-tie. Sometimes it’s a lip-tie. Sometimes it’s something entirely different.
That’s why every baby deserves an individualized evaluation rather than assumptions based on one symptom alone.
If your baby makes clicking sounds while feeding, you may also enjoy Why Does My Baby Click While Breastfeeding?. If your baby swallows a great deal of air, Why Does My Baby Swallow So Much Air While Feeding? explains why that often happens. And if your baby always seems hungry after nursing, Why Is My Baby Always Hungry? It May Not Be Low Milk Supply may answer some of the questions you’ve been asking.
If your baby repeatedly pulls off the breast or bottle and feeding has become frustrating, don’t assume you simply have to wait for things to improve. Many families who visit our office have already sought answers elsewhere before coming to see us. A comprehensive feeding evaluation can often identify why feeding has become difficult and help determine the best path forward.
Families travel to the Alabama Tongue-Tie Center from across the United States and around the world for comprehensive evaluations of tongue-ties, lip-ties, buccal ties, and other feeding challenges.
Having Trouble With Feeding?
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Looking Beyond the Latch
One of the biggest mistakes we can make is focusing only on whether a baby can latch instead of asking whether they’re feeding efficiently once they’re latched.
I’ve met many babies who latch almost immediately. Moms report that lactation consultants said that everything appears normal. Then, over the next several minutes, the feeding begins to fall apart. The baby repeatedly loses suction, slips off the breast, swallows air, becomes frustrated, and never seems completely satisfied.(We don’t observe breastfeeding, since I am a pediatric dentist, we leave that to the professionals!)
I’m interested in hearing what happens over the entire feeding. Does your baby stay latched comfortably? Are they transferring milk efficiently? Do they seem content afterward? Those answers often tell us much more than the initial latch itself.
A Comprehensive Evaluation Matters
Not every baby who struggles to stay latched has a tongue-tie.
Some babies have body tension that makes feeding uncomfortable. Others have oral motor challenges, prematurity, low milk supply, a forceful letdown, or another feeding issue altogether.
Our goal isn’t to prove that every baby has an oral restriction. It’s to understand why feeding isn’t working the way it should.
During every evaluation, we look at far more than the tongue. We assess tongue function, upper lip mobility, body tension, and more. We also routinely evaluate for restrictive buccal (cheek) ties. While most cheek ties are completely normal, a small percentage appear to contribute to feeding difficulties. When appropriate, we release them during the same procedure at no additional charge.
Every recommendation we make is based on the complete picture rather than one finding alone.
Why Parents’ Observations Matter
Parents often apologize for bringing a long list of concerns to the appointment.
Please don’t. In many cases, those observations are what help us put the puzzle together. Tell me that your baby clicks during feeding. Tell me they nurse for an hour. Tell me they always seem hungry, swallow air, or fall asleep before finishing.
Those details are incredibly valuable because feeding problems rarely occur in isolation. When several symptoms occur together, they often point us toward the underlying cause.
When Parents Come Back
Some of my favorite conversations happen at follow-up visits.
A parent smiles and says, “I didn’t realize how hard my baby was working until afterward.”
Another tells me that feedings are finally calm.
Someone else says they can finish a meal before the next feeding starts.
Not every family has the same experience, and not every baby needs treatment. But when an oral restriction is contributing to feeding difficulties, it’s rewarding to hear parents report back that their babies feed more comfortably and parents can now enjoy their babies instead of worrying through every meal.
When Should You Seek Another Opinion?
If your baby repeatedly loses their latch and you still don’t feel like you’ve found an answer, it’s reasonable to seek another evaluation.
That may be especially true if your baby also:
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Clicks during feedings
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Swallows excessive air
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Leaks milk from the corners of the mouth
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Nurses for a very long time
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Falls asleep before finishing
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Never seems satisfied after eating
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Causes persistent nipple pain
Sometimes a fresh set of experienced eyes makes all the difference.
You know your baby better than anyone else.
If feeding continues to feel unusually difficult, don’t ignore that feeling simply because you’ve been told your baby will “grow out of it.” We’d be happy to help you understand what’s happening and discuss whether a tongue-tie, lip-tie, buccal tie, or another feeding challenge could be contributing.
Families visit the Alabama Tongue-Tie Center from across the United States and around the world because they’re looking for thoughtful, comprehensive feeding evaluations.
Send us a message or call 205-419-4333 to schedule a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why does my baby latch and then pull away?
There are several possible reasons. Some babies struggle with milk flow, while others have difficulty maintaining suction because feeding has become inefficient. A comprehensive feeding evaluation can often help identify the underlying cause.
Q2. Can a tongue-tie make my baby lose their latch?
Yes. A tongue-tie can limit tongue movement, making it difficult for some babies to maintain suction and transfer milk efficiently. As they compensate, they may repeatedly pull off the breast or bottle.
Q3. Can a lip-tie affect the latch?
It can. While tongue-ties more commonly affect milk transfer, a restrictive lip-tie may make it harder for some babies to maintain a comfortable seal, especially when it occurs together with a tongue-tie.
Q4. What about buccal (cheek) ties?
Most buccal ties are normal and never need treatment. However, because they occasionally contribute to feeding problems, we routinely evaluate them as part of every comprehensive feeding assessment.
Continue Reading
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Feeding Shouldn’t Be a Constant Struggle
Parents often tell me they knew something wasn’t right long before they knew what the problem was. If you’ve reached this point in the article, my guess is you’re looking for answers because feeding hasn’t felt the way you expected it would.
Sometimes the explanation is simple. Sometimes it isn’t. But when babies feed comfortably and efficiently, the difference can be remarkable – not only for the baby, but for the entire family.
If you’re looking for answers, we’d be honored to help.
Comprehensive Feeding & Oral Evaluation
