It can be pretty worrying and exhausting when your little one refuses to breastfeed or keeps unlatching and frequently latching in a single breastfeeding session. And when they bottle feed, the milk keeps coming out of their mouth, or they suffer from severe refluxes or make a constant clicking sound.
Babies with lip ties can find it difficult to breastfeed normally or feed on the feeding bottles without making clicking sounds or slipping off them. Lip tie is when the frenulum that joints the upper lip to the gum is too thick and resistant, which makes the movements of the lip restricted. The top feeding bottles that can prove to be helpful for babies with lip ties are- Dr. Brown’s Original Bottle Specialty Feeding Starter Kit, Joovy Boob PPSU bottles, MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic bottles, MAM Easy Active bottles, Munchkin Latch Anti-Colic Baby bottles, Lansinoh Breastfeeding Bottles, Tommy Tippy Baby bottles, and Playtex Baby VentAire Bottles. Remember that some of these bottles will still not be comfortable for your babies. So, try and test one bottle before buying them in multiples.
Babies with lip ties can find it very difficult and uncomfortable to breastfeed correctly, and while bottle-feeding, you might notice their upper lip getting tucked in or turning red after a feeding session.
But before diving into the types of bottles you can try for your babies, let’s first understand what exactly a lip tie is. What are the signs that indicate that your little one has a lip tie and how is it different from a tongue tie?
What’s a lip tie?
If you try to feel right now inside your mouth, you’ll find a piece of tissue that connects the inside of your upper lip to the gums. That piece of tissue scientifically is called a labial frenulum.
We are all born with a lip tie, and it’s perfectly normal, but sometimes some babies are born with a bit of tight frenulum. For example, the frenulum could be short and thick or too stiff, which can restrict the movements of the upper lip.
A lip tie can cause possible issues with feeding and also sometimes with speech. It might also cause some babies difficulty gaining weight.
Lip tie isn’t considered dangerous as long as the baby is gaining weight and doesn’t have an issue with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, and once it’s diagnosed, the lip tie can be corrected quickly.
Difference between a lip tie and a tongue tie
As we understood, with lip tie, the frenulum that connects the upper lip to the gum is short and thick, keeping the upper lip from moving freely.
A tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia, is a congenital condition where the frenulum that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is short and thick.
Signs that your baby could have a lip tie
The following are the possible signs of struggle for babies with a lip tie:
- Your baby has trouble latching or maintaining a latch.
- Your baby’s upper lip may look folded over or tucked in.
- Your baby has difficulty suckling at the breast.
- Frequently falling asleep at the breast.
- Your baby might make clicking sounds.
- Your baby might show colic or reflux like symptoms.
- Slow weight gain or lack of weight gain.
- The mother might feel pain during or after breastfeeding.
- The mother might suffer from engorged breasts even after nursing.
- The mother might suffer from frequent clogged milk ducts.
8 best feeding bottles for babies with lip-tie
1. Dr. Brown’s Original Bottle Specialty Feeding Starter Kit
With the infant-paced feeding nipple type, Dr. Brown’s feeding bottles make an excellent choice for babies with lip ties and even for cleft lips.
Features:
- It’s designed specifically for babies suffering from complicated oral feeding issues.
- The bottle serves as a wonderful anti-colic bottle for colicky babies.
- Easier to clean and sterilize
- It helps decrease gassiness and burping with the non-squeeze method
2. Joovy Boob PPSU bottles
Another excellent option for babies with lip-tie is Joovy Boob bottles because of the unique design of the nipple on the bottle, which prevents any leaks, and reduces colic
Features:
- The ultra-premium PPSU material will not absorb any color or odor over time.
- It is BPA, PVC, Phthalate, and lead-free.
- With the 1-piece clean flow, the bottle becomes easy to clean and sterilize.
- It helps reduce colic and also prevents leaks.
- The unique design of the nipple prevents nipple collapse and maintains a proper latch.
- It helps them transition to the breast from the bottle and from bottle to breast quickly.
3. MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic bottles
These feeding bottles become easier to use with their self-sterilized features in the microwave when kept for 3 minutes. The elongated nipple resembles just like the mom’s, so babies become more comfortable with it.
Features:
- With their vented base design, it can help reduce 80% of colic symptoms in babies.
- Easier to clean and sterilize. Just keep the bottle in the microwave for 3 minutes, and you’re good to go.
- You don’t have to carry a sterilizer when you travel.
- The elongated nipple helps babies to be more comfortable as it resembles the mom.
- It helps in making the switch between the breast and the bottle easy.
- It has an anti-slip texture which helps the nipple stay in the baby’s mouth.
4. MAM Easy Active bottles
Similar to the MAM Easy Anti-colic bottles, the MAM easy active bottles are also a first-rate option for your baby to try out.
Features:
- It’s BPA and BPS free.
- Babies easily accept the SkinSoft textured nipples of these bottles.
- The flat shape of the nipple helps babies accept the bottle easily after breastfeeding.
- The cap of the feeding bottle can double up as a measuring cup and is leakproof.
- The wide opening of the bottle helps clean, assemble, and fill the bottle easily.
5. Munchkin Latch Anti-Colic Baby bottles
Munchkin Latch Anti-colic baby bottles are doctors recommended for healthy feedings and sleeping.
Features:
- The nipples are designed to be ultra-flexible for the baby’s comfort.
- The one-way valve will help reduce gas and fussiness.
- It’s top-rack dishwasher safe.
- The bottles are designed to mimic breastfeeding as milk releases when the baby applies pressure against the nipple.
- The bottles are well compatible with breast pumps from Medela, Lansinoh, and Evenflo.
6.Lansinoh Breastfeeding Bottles
These bottles are specifically designed for breastfed babies to avoid any nipple confusion.
Features:
- The bottles are designed to be compatible with paced-feeding.
- The bottles are clinically proven to reduce nipple confusion and easily switch between the bottle and the breast.
- As it’s dishwasher safe, it’s easy to clean and use.
- The air ventilation system is designed to reduce the intake of air and so reduces colic.
- It has a protective cap that prevents any leaks.
7. Tommy Tippy Baby bottles
Known as the Closer to Nature baby bottles, these bottles have breast-like nipples and are great for babies with lip ties as they’ll be more comfortable with the nipple shape and size.
Features:
- Uniquely designed, the Y-shaped nipple allows thickened formula and breastmilk to flow easily.
- Because of the breast-like nipples, the switch from breast to bottle is easy.
- The silicone material of the nipple feels closer to the skin texture.
- The nipple is flexible on bending and is easy to clean.
- The ergonomic shape of the bottle helps in holding the bottle comfortably.
8. Playtex Baby VentAire Bottles
The angled design of the bottle makes it for babies to latch correctly and doesn’t slip off.
Features:
- The ergonomic angled design is recommended by pediatrics, promoting a semi-upright position for feeding, helping with digestion.
- The air vent bottom in the bottles will make the intake of air reduces and helps with colic and gassiness.
- The wide-shaped nipple encourages proper latching and mimics mom’s breast.
FAQs
Does lip tie affect a baby’s smile?
Because of the upper lip movement restriction, a lip tie can affect the smile and can even become difficult to brush the teeth.
Who fixes a lip tie?
An oral surgeon may perform a frenectomy procedure, which usually takes only a few minutes to complete, either surgically or with laser treatment.
How much does a frenectomy cost?
The cost of the procedure depends on various things like the city you live in, the severity of the case, the expertise of the specialist. The cost can range anywhere from $250 to $1200.
Conclusion
A lip tie isn’t necessarily dangerous if your little one is growing up healthily and is gaining weight. The above-suggested bottles are only to make your baby more comfortable while feeding.
It’s also possible that a suggested feeding bottle you tried from the above recommendation might not suit your baby’s needs. In such cases, try another because you can only find the perfect bottle with some trial and error.
You can always consult a lactation specialist or your pediatrician for further assistance in dealing with lip ties and helping your little one feed comfortably.