Your Baby's Mouth

Occasionally, a baby’s tongue may seem to be attached to the bottom of his mouth all along its length. This is called a tongue tie. It isn’t usually a problem as the tongue grows from the tip, so there is no need for any treatment to separate it.

Sometimes a tongue tie will make breastfeeding difficult as the baby moves his tongue forward and backward under the breast to drain the milk from the breast. If his tongue is very small and tied, then he may not be able to make the right movement. This can make breastfeeding painful for the mother. Your midwife will be able to tell just by looking if the tongue is tied.

Often a baby’s tongue looks white rather than pink, simply because of the milk he is feeding on. If his tongue is pink with white patches, though, he may have thrush and you should see your doctor. You should also contact your doctor urgently if his tongue is blue.

Some babies develop a blister on their upper lip from sucking. It doesn’t seem to bother them and isn’t any cause for concern.

A few babies are born with one or two teeth. These are usually removed as they are often loose and may be swallowed if they come out.