Can a Tongue Tie Really Stretch Over Time? Here's What You Need to Know
If you've ever mentioned your baby's tongue tie to a friend, a relative, or even a healthcare provider, you've probably heard one of these two comments, or both:
"It'll stretch on its own as they grow” or “they’ll grow out of it.”
It's one of the most common things parents are told, and also one of the most misleading. So let’s break down what this really means, where the myth comes from, and what the research actually says.
What is a tongue tie?
A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) occurs when the strip of tissue underneath the tongue, known as the lingual frenulum, is unusually short, tight, or thick. This restricts how freely the tongue can move and may affect your baby’s ability to feed effectively, whether on the breast or bottle. Over time, it may also impact their oral development, influence tongue posture, and contribute to issues with speech or airway health, depending on the severity and location of the restriction.
In other words, a true tongue tie is a short, tight band of connective tissue that limits tongue mobility and affects oral function.
So...can it actually stretch?
The short answer, No.
The frenulum is made of dense connective tissue, not stretchy muscle or elastic skin. It's primarily collagen and fascia, designed to stabilise, not to expand. It doesn’t grow, loosen, or become more functional just because your baby gets older.
What people often observe is a baby "coping better" with feeding, eating or speech over time, is typically due to compensations, not true improvement in tongue function.
Why does this myth persist?
There are a few reasons:
Jaw growth makes the mouth look bigger. As babies grow, their oral cavity changes - the jaw widens, the palate broadens, and the mouth elongates. This can make the frenulum appear longer or less restrictive, but the structural limitation usually remains. The tongue tie hasn’t stretched, it’s just surrounded by more space.
Babies learn to compensate. Stronger muscles and clever adaptations (like chewing with their gums or changing latch positions) can make things seem better, temporarily. These compensations often mask the issue until their next developmental stage, where that strategy no longer works. Think of it like a toddler walking on tippy toes to reach the counter - it works, but it’s not ideal.
Some restrictions cause fewer noticeable issues. That doesn’t mean they’ve gone away or "stretched." It might just be that your baby has strong adaptive skills, received early support, or hasn't yet reached a stage where the restriction becomes more obvious, like when solids, speech, or dental development come into play.
But doesn’t it look like it stretches as babies grow?
Not quite. What’s really happening is craniofacial development - that is, the baby’s mouth gets bigger, their jaw widens, and their palate grows. This can make the frenulum appear longer or looser. But structurally, the tie itself hasn’t changed. The restriction remains, it’s just surrounded by a larger space.
This is one reason parents might be told “they’ll grow out of it,” in relation to the tongue tie. But what is really happening, your baby is growing around the tongue tie.
What the research shows
There is a lot of research emerging and it is very accessible! The studies that are available show that because tongue ties are functionally restrictive, releasing them leads to measurable improvements in:
Breastfeeding efficiency and comfort (Ghaheri et al., 2017)
Maternal nipple pain (O’Callahan et al., 2013)
Weight gain and milk transfer (Geddes et al., 2008)
This strongly suggests that the restriction is not something the baby will just grow out of, and when function is impacted, targeted support and timely release can make a meaningful difference.
In fact, research shows that untreated restrictive tongue ties can contribute to ongoing feeding difficulties, poor weight gain, early weaning, disrupted sleep quality, suboptimal craniofacial development, and oral dysfunction later in life. That’s why a functional assessment, not just a visual one, is so important!
So what should you watch for?
If your baby has a suspected or diagnosed tongue tie, and you’re being told to “wait and see,” keep an eye out for some or all of these symptoms:
Clicking or slipping off the breast/bottle
Shallow latch or nipple pain
Milk leaking from the sides of the mouth
Gagging or coughing during feeds
Ongoing reflux, wind, or unsettled behaviour
Open-mouth posture or noisy breathing
Poor weight gain or fatigue while feeding
These are signs that the tongue tie may still be affecting function, even if things seem to keep going “up and down” or appearing "better than before.”
Bottom line?
The idea that a tongue tie will "stretch" over time is outdated. What can happen is that babies compensate, adapt, or grow into bigger mouths, but the underlying restriction usually remains.
If you're unsure whether your baby’s feeding or oral function is being impacted, speak to an IBCLC or a provider trained in oral function and tethered oral tissue assessment. Early support can make all the difference to your feeding journey but also the wellbeing of your baby.
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✨ Coming very soon: The Gentle Village Parent Library - where we dive even deeper into topics like this (and so much more) for members who want to feel confident, informed, and supported.