Why IBCLCs Are the Experts in Infant Feeding and Tongue Tie Support

At Nurture Lactation, many families come to us feeling confused after hearing different opinions about tongue ties. It is common for a lactation consultant to notice feeding challenges that may not be obvious during a brief pediatric exam. When parents are simply trying to understand what their baby needs, that difference in perspective can feel unsettling.

The foundation of our approach goes back to our founder, Sarah’s own experience as a new parent. Long before she became an IBCLC, she had a strong sense that something was not right during feeding. Latching was painful, feedings were long and exhausting, and neither she nor her baby ever settled into a rhythm that felt sustainable. Still, appointment after appointment, she was told that everything looked normal. At the time, she did not yet have the language to explain what she was experiencing. She only knew that something felt off. When she later learned why feeding had been so difficult, it brought clarity and helped shape the thoughtful, compassionate approach that guides our practice today.

Many families we work with now find themselves in a similar place. Understanding the role of an IBCLC and how lactation consultants evaluate feeding can help make sense of why different guidance sometimes exists.

Why IBCLCs Are Experts in Infant Feeding

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, or IBCLCs, are healthcare professionals whose training is focused specifically on infant feeding and lactation. Becoming an IBCLC requires extensive education, hundreds of supervised clinical hours, and ongoing continuing education. This depth of preparation allows IBCLCs to evaluate feeding in a way that centers function, comfort, and sustainability for both baby and parent.

IBCLCs are trained to assess how feeding works in real time. This includes observing latch mechanics, tongue movement during active feeding, suction, endurance, coordination, and milk transfer, as well as how feeding feels for the parent. These details often explain why feeding feels painful, exhausting, or inefficient, even when growth appears appropriate.

Pediatricians play a vital role in supporting infant health and development, and their expertise is broad and essential. Because their training spans all aspects of child health, infant feeding mechanics make up only one part of their education. IBCLCs, by contrast, spend their entire training focused on feeding itself. This allows them to take a more detailed, feeding-specific view.

Rather than replacing pediatric care, IBCLCs work alongside pediatricians by offering a deeper look at how feeding functions day to day.

How IBCLCs Approach Feeding Function

When an IBCLC evaluates feeding, the focus goes beyond weight gain alone. Growth is important, but it is only one part of the picture. IBCLCs also consider how long feedings take, how much effort a baby is using, whether a baby tires easily, and whether feeding feels comfortable and manageable for the parent.

A baby can gain weight while compensating for inefficient feeding through very long or frequent sessions. In the same way, a parent can produce enough milk while still experiencing significant pain, nipple damage, or ongoing stress around feeding. These experiences matter and are central to a functional feeding assessment.

IBCLCs also rely on breastfeeding-specific norms when evaluating feeding patterns. Breastfed babies often follow different trajectories than formula-fed babies, especially in the early weeks. Feeding frequency, diaper output, maternal symptoms, and feeding behavior all provide important insight that a growth chart alone cannot fully explain.

Why Tongue Ties Require a Functional Assessment

Tongue ties are not identified by appearance alone. Some restrictions are subtle and may only become apparent when the tongue is observed during active feeding. IBCLCs are trained to recognize these functional limitations by watching how the tongue elevates, cups the breast, maintains suction, and coordinates with the jaw.

This functional approach helps determine whether a tongue tie is truly affecting feeding and whether intervention may be helpful. It also helps prevent unnecessary procedures by ensuring recommendations are based on how feeding is functioning, not just how anatomy looks.

What to Do If You Are Receiving Mixed Guidance

Hearing different recommendations can feel overwhelming, but it does not mean anyone is wrong. More often, it means different providers are viewing feeding through different areas of expertise.

When questions about tongue ties or feeding challenges come up, many families benefit from a collaborative approach that includes both pediatric care and lactation support. An IBCLC can offer a detailed functional feeding assessment, while pediatricians continue to monitor overall health and development.

Together, this team-based approach often provides the clearest and most supportive path forward.

Final Thoughts

Infant feeding is complex, and no single provider sees every part of the picture. Pediatricians bring invaluable knowledge of infant health and development. IBCLCs bring specialized expertise in feeding mechanics, function, and the lived experience of feeding.

At Nurture Lactation, our role is to support families by focusing on how feeding works in real life. How it feels, how it functions, and how it can be improved when challenges arise. If feeding feels harder than expected, you deserve answers that reflect the full experience.

We are here to help you find clarity, confidence, and support at every step.