04/11/2025
I used to look at all three of my children as babies, with their little mouths open and think “damn they were cute?!”
It didn’t occur to me that they were mouth breathing. Nor did I realise there was a reason they were mouth breathing. We just sort of accept that some people “are mouth breathers” and some “are nose breathers.”
But I know differently now — and tongue posture + tongue mobility are a huge part of this story.
Here’s what I wish I had known back then:
1. If a baby’s mouth is open, they are mouth breathing.
2. The tongue needs to elevate in the palate to be able to nose breathe.
3. Supporting full tongue mobility (sometimes with gentle oral exercises + sometimes needing a tongue tie division) can allow for nasal breathing.
4. Nose breathing supports calmer babies, better sleep, better feeding + more robust immunity.
5. Mouth breathing can affect how the face, jaw and airway grow, and it also keeps the body in a more “stressed” state over time — which can show up as sleep challenges, behavioural/emotional regulation issues, dental problems + chronic congestion + breathing restriction long term.
6. Your gut instinct is right — even if your baby never showed “classic” signs of oral dysfunction / tongue tie.
And if you’re reading this thinking “I had no idea”… that was me too.
You’re not late.
You haven’t missed the window.
Awareness creates options — and options create power.
Follow along for more support around tongue function, airway health, feeding + nervous system regulation… or send me a DM to see how I can support you either in person or virtually.
