Beyond the First Latch: Early Signs of Tongue Dysfunction
How early tongue function affects feeding, breathing, sleep, and craniofacial development.
Free Live Webinar + Q&A for Parents and Birth Professionals
Most conversations about breastfeeding focus on the latch.
But what many parents don’t realize is that what you don’t know about your baby’s latch today can influence their health for years to come, even into adulthood.
The tongue begins forming around the fourth week of pregnancy, long before a baby ever feeds. From that moment forward, it plays a central role in how a baby:
• feeds
• breathes
• swallows
• sleeps
• and how the face and airway develop
Yet many families are told that if a baby is gaining weight, everything is fine.
In reality, babies often adapt and compensate in subtle ways that may appear as reflux, colic, gassiness, noisy breathing, or prolonged feeding sessions.
You might recognize this if a baby:
• clicks while feeding
• struggles to stay latched
• feeds for very long periods
• seems gassy or colicky
• has noisy breathing
• prefers sleeping with their mouth open
These signs are often dismissed as normal newborn behavior, but they can sometimes signal that oral function is not working as efficiently as it could.
In this educational webinar, pediatric dentists Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru and Dr. Krystle Dean-Duru will guide expectant, new parents and birth professionals through what early tongue function can reveal about a baby’s development.
This Session Is Designed For
• Expectant & New parents
• Doulas
• Midwives
• Lactation consultants
• Pediatric providers
• Anyone supporting newborn feeding
What We’ll Cover
• What a latch shows — and what it doesn’t
• How tongue function begins developing during pregnancy
• Early feeding signs that may signal oral motor dysfunction
• Why some babies struggle with reflux, colic, or gassiness
• The connection between tongue posture, breathing, and facial growth
• When families should seek further evaluation
Common Signs We'll Discuss
• Clicking during feeding
• Milk leaking from the mouth
• Painful latch for mothers
• Prolonged feeds
• Reflux-like symptoms
• Gassiness or colic
• Noisy breathing
• Open-mouth posture
Live Q&A Included
We will reserve time at the end of the webinar for live questions from attendees.
Hosted By
Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru and Dr. Krystle Dean-Duru
Pediatric Dentists Focused on Airway and Early Development
Ashburn Children’s Dentistry
Womb 2 Grow Wellness
Date and Time
Thursday, March 26 5:30 PM EST
Live Online Webinar (Zoom)
Registration Instructions
After registering on Eventbrite, you will receive a link to complete Zoom registration and receive the webinar access link.
How early tongue function affects feeding, breathing, sleep, and craniofacial development.
Free Live Webinar + Q&A for Parents and Birth Professionals
Most conversations about breastfeeding focus on the latch.
But what many parents don’t realize is that what you don’t know about your baby’s latch today can influence their health for years to come, even into adulthood.
The tongue begins forming around the fourth week of pregnancy, long before a baby ever feeds. From that moment forward, it plays a central role in how a baby:
• feeds
• breathes
• swallows
• sleeps
• and how the face and airway develop
Yet many families are told that if a baby is gaining weight, everything is fine.
In reality, babies often adapt and compensate in subtle ways that may appear as reflux, colic, gassiness, noisy breathing, or prolonged feeding sessions.
You might recognize this if a baby:
• clicks while feeding
• struggles to stay latched
• feeds for very long periods
• seems gassy or colicky
• has noisy breathing
• prefers sleeping with their mouth open
These signs are often dismissed as normal newborn behavior, but they can sometimes signal that oral function is not working as efficiently as it could.
In this educational webinar, pediatric dentists Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru and Dr. Krystle Dean-Duru will guide expectant, new parents and birth professionals through what early tongue function can reveal about a baby’s development.
This Session Is Designed For
• Expectant & New parents
• Doulas
• Midwives
• Lactation consultants
• Pediatric providers
• Anyone supporting newborn feeding
What We’ll Cover
• What a latch shows — and what it doesn’t
• How tongue function begins developing during pregnancy
• Early feeding signs that may signal oral motor dysfunction
• Why some babies struggle with reflux, colic, or gassiness
• The connection between tongue posture, breathing, and facial growth
• When families should seek further evaluation
Common Signs We'll Discuss
• Clicking during feeding
• Milk leaking from the mouth
• Painful latch for mothers
• Prolonged feeds
• Reflux-like symptoms
• Gassiness or colic
• Noisy breathing
• Open-mouth posture
Live Q&A Included
We will reserve time at the end of the webinar for live questions from attendees.
Hosted By
Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru and Dr. Krystle Dean-Duru
Pediatric Dentists Focused on Airway and Early Development
Ashburn Children’s Dentistry
Womb 2 Grow Wellness
Date and Time
Thursday, March 26 5:30 PM EST
Live Online Webinar (Zoom)
Registration Instructions
After registering on Eventbrite, you will receive a link to complete Zoom registration and receive the webinar access link.
Good to know
Highlights
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Online