Lactation Spot, Cooper City, FL (2025)

08/01/2025

TONGUE TIE LINGO - What Does it All Mean?! Many terms are thrown around in the “tongue tie world” and it can get very confusing. Here are some of the most common ones below.

👅LINGUAL FRENULUM: NORMAL TISSUE ATTACHMENT BETWEEN TONGUE AND FLOOR OF MOUTH
👅LABIAL FRENULUM: NORMAL ATTACHMENT BETWEEN LIP AND GUM (Also called Maxillary Freulum)
👅FRENUM & FRENULUM often used interchangeably
👅ANKYLOGLOSSIA: A TIGHT, THICK OR SHORT ORAL FRENULUM CAUSING FUNCTIONAL ISSUES
👅OTHER NAMES FOR ANKYLOGLOSSIA (ORAL RESTRICTIONS, TONGUE TIES, LIP TIES, BUCCAL TIES, TOTS (Tethered Oral Tissues), Posterior Tongue Ties, Anterior Tongue Tie, Mild Tongue Tie. THEY ARE ALL SYNONYMOUS.
👅FRENECTOMY: SURGICAL PROCEDURE TO RELEASE TIES
👅RELEASE: FIRST FRENECTOMY
👅REVISION: REPEAT FRENECTOMIES

Frenulums are formed congenitally in utero. The vast majority of people have a lingual frenulum (the stringy piece of tissue between the tongue and the floor of the mouth). In some people it’s short, others long. In some its thin, others thick. Some stretchy, some not. Or any combination! Having a visible frenulum, does not mean it is restricted. Some frenulums are thin and stretchy and do not impact functional mobility.

However, if the tongue movement/function is restricted, this is when it becomes known as a tongue tie. Oftentimes, the restriction is far back behind the fascia under the tongue, and not visible. These are often referred to as “posterior ties”, and they can severely impact function.

A few things to remember:

* THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A “MILD” tongue tie
* All Anterior Tongue Ties have a Posterior Restriction as well
* Not all Posterior Tongue Ties have an Anterior (visible) attachment. This is why so many go undiagnosed
* Only a very specialized provider is trained to properly identify Ankyloglossia. Most providers only know how to identify the obvious classic “anterior” ties.

Please find a very skilled experienced Speech Pathologist who can properly perform an Oral Functional Assessment. If you do not have one in your area, contact us and we will help guide you in the right direction.

07/19/2025

🚨 Why Babies Need Postural Control Before Starting Solids! 🚨

As a speech-language pathologist and feeding specialist, I see so many parents eager to introduce solids early, especially when their baby seems “big enough” or interested in food. But size doesn’t equal readiness!

Starting solids too early (before ~6 months) can lead to:
❌ Choking & aspiration risks
❌ Excessive gagging & food refusal
❌ Increased risk of pneumonia & respiratory issues
❌ Negative oral experiences → future picky eating
❌ No proven benefit for better sleep (despite the myths!)

🚫 Signs Your Baby is NOT Ready for Solids Yet:
❌ Cannot sit upright with minimal support (slouches, leans, or falls over)
❌ Has weak head & neck control (bobs head, lacks stability)
❌ Still has a strong tongue-thrust reflex (pushes food out with tongue)
❌ Shows little to no interest in food (doesn’t reach for it or turn towards it)
❌ Turns head away or refuses when food is offered
❌ Chokes, gags excessively, or struggles to swallow even small tastes

A baby is ready for solids when they show ALL of these signs:
✅ Sits upright with minimal support (postural stability matters!)
✅ Strong head & neck control
✅ No longer has the tongue-thrust reflex (doesn’t push food out)
✅ Shows interest in food & reaches for it
✅ Opens mouth voluntarily for food

📚 What the Research Says:
➡️ Studies support waiting until ~6 months for safe feeding.
➡️ Postural stability is essential for safe swallowing & airway protection.
➡️ Bigger babies ≠ Ready babies! Readiness is about neuromuscular development, not weight.

👶 Bottom Line: Starting solids before your baby has the strength & control to sit upright increases the risk of choking, feeding aversion, and long-term feeding struggles. Trust your baby’s developmental cues—NOT just their size or age.

💬 Questions? Concerns? Drop them below! ⬇️

02/26/2025

🚨 Why Babies Need Postural Control Before Starting Solids! 🚨

As a speech-language pathologist and feeding specialist, I see so many parents eager to introduce solids early, especially when their baby seems “big enough” or interested in food. But size doesn’t equal readiness!

Starting solids too early (before ~6 months) can lead to:
❌ Choking & aspiration risks
❌ Excessive gagging & food refusal
❌ Increased risk of pneumonia & respiratory issues
❌ Negative oral experiences → future picky eating
❌ No proven benefit for better sleep (despite the myths!)

🚫 Signs Your Baby is NOT Ready for Solids Yet:
❌ Cannot sit upright with minimal support (slouches, leans, or falls over)
❌ Has weak head & neck control (bobs head, lacks stability)
❌ Still has a strong tongue-thrust reflex (pushes food out with tongue)
❌ Shows little to no interest in food (doesn’t reach for it or turn towards it)
❌ Turns head away or refuses when food is offered
❌ Chokes, gags excessively, or struggles to swallow even small tastes

A baby is ready for solids when they show ALL of these signs:
✅ Sits upright with minimal support (postural stability matters!)
✅ Strong head & neck control
✅ No longer has the tongue-thrust reflex (doesn’t push food out)
✅ Shows interest in food & reaches for it
✅ Opens mouth voluntarily for food

📚 What the Research Says:
➡️ Studies support waiting until ~6 months for safe feeding.
➡️ Postural stability is essential for safe swallowing & airway protection.
➡️ Bigger babies ≠ Ready babies! Readiness is about neuromuscular development, not weight.

👶 Bottom Line: Starting solids before your baby has the strength & control to sit upright increases the risk of choking, feeding aversion, and long-term feeding struggles. Trust your baby’s developmental cues—NOT just their size or age.

💬 Questions? Concerns? Drop them below! ⬇️

02/25/2025

TONGUE TIE LINGO - What Does it All Mean?! Many terms are thrown around in the “tongue tie world” and it can get very confusing. Here are some of the most common ones below.

👅LINGUAL FRENULUM: NORMAL TISSUE ATTACHMENT BETWEEN TONGUE AND FLOOR OF MOUTH
👅LABIAL FRENULUM: NORMAL ATTACHMENT BETWEEN LIP AND GUM (Also called Maxillary Freulum)
👅FRENUM & FRENULUM often used interchangeably
👅ANKYLOGLOSSIA: A TIGHT, THICK OR SHORT ORAL FRENULUM CAUSING FUNCTIONAL ISSUES
👅OTHER NAMES FOR ANKYLOGLOSSIA (ORAL RESTRICTIONS, TONGUE TIES, LIP TIES, BUCCAL TIES, TOTS (Tethered Oral Tissues), Posterior Tongue Ties, Anterior Tongue Tie, Mild Tongue Tie. THEY ARE ALL SYNONYMOUS.
👅FRENECTOMY: SURGICAL PROCEDURE TO RELEASE TIES
👅RELEASE: FIRST FRENECTOMY
👅REVISION: REPEAT FRENECTOMIES

Frenulums are formed congenitally in utero. The vast majority of people have a lingual frenulum (the stringy piece of tissue between the tongue and the floor of the mouth). In some people it’s short, others long. In some its thin, others thick. Some stretchy, some not. Or any combination! Having a visible frenulum, does not mean it is restricted. Some frenulums are thin and stretchy and do not impact functional mobility.

However, if the tongue movement/function is restricted, this is when it becomes known as a tongue tie. Oftentimes, the restriction is far back behind the fascia under the tongue, and not visible. These are often referred to as “posterior ties”, and they can severely impact function.

A few things to remember:

* THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A “MILD” tongue tie
* All Anterior Tongue Ties have a Posterior Restriction as well
* Not all Posterior Tongue Ties have an Anterior (visible) attachment. This is why so many go undiagnosed
* Only a very specialized provider is trained to properly identify Ankyloglossia. Most providers only know how to identify the obvious classic “anterior” ties.

Please find a very skilled experienced Speech Pathologist who can properly perform an Oral Functional Assessment. If you do not have one in your area, contact us and we will help guide you in the right direction. We also offer Telehealth Guided Assessments across the US and Internationally.

12/21/2024

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12/14/2024

I don’t know who made this, but is pretty great! 💚🧙‍♀️

✨ The Power of Myofunctional Therapy in Transforming Facial Harmony ✨

Myofunctional Therapy is powerful! Proper tongue posture and balanced orofacial muscles play a significant role in influencing facial structure. Myofunctional therapy focuses on correcting dysfunctional habits that impact the shape and balance of the face. 🧠💡

How it works:
1️⃣ Improved Tongue Posture: Encouraging the tongue to rest on the roof of the mouth supports proper facial development and alignment.
2️⃣ Muscle Balance: Strengthening and coordinating the orofacial muscles helps achieve symmetry and enhance facial aesthetics.
3️⃣ Breathing Optimization: Training nasal breathing reduces strain on facial muscles, promoting more defined and harmonious features.

The results? A more balanced facial structure, improved functionality, and even enhanced confidence. 💪✨ Call Myofunctional Spot to schedule your assessment! Link in bio