Confident feeding begins with functional foundations.
At Tip of the Tongue, we support families across Central Alberta with comprehensive infant feeding assessments, tongue and lip tie evaluations, pumping support, and early oral motor care.
Our focus is not simply feeding in the moment — but building strong oral function that supports speech, breathing, and development as your baby grows.
Our Clinical Approach
Infant feeding is complex and rarely one-dimensional.
We assess the whole picture — not just anatomy.
Our team includes:
• A Clinical Lactation Counsellor
• A dual-certified Speech-Language Pathologist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
This dual lens allows us to evaluate feeding from both a lactation and oral function perspective — ensuring evidence-informed, function-based recommendations rather than isolated structural opinions.
Every tongue or lip tie concern begins with a comprehensive feeding intake. We prioritize proper diagnosis, thoughtful timing, and collaborative care — not rushed procedures.
This May Be Right for Your Family If...…
Prenatal Preparation
• You want to feel confident before baby arrives
• You experienced feeding challenges previously
• You would like guidance on pumping and milk supply
• You want to understand tongue tie risk factors
Postpartum Feeding Concerns
• Breastfeeding is painful or causing nipple damage
• Your baby struggles to latch or stay latched
• Feeding sessions are long or exhausting
• Weight gain is inconsistent
• Bottle feeding feels disorganized
• You hear clicking or see milk leaking during feeds
Tongue & Lip Tie Support
• You suspect oral restriction
• You are considering or preparing for a frenectomy
• You want structured pre- and post-release support
Why Early Functional Support Matters
Feeding is more than nutrition — it shapes oral muscle coordination, airway patterns, and early development.
When latch, suction, or coordination are inefficient, families may experience:
• Nipple pain or tissue damage
• Down-regulation of milk supply (loss of milk supply)
• Reflux-like symptoms (gassiness, spit up, belly discomfort)
• Frequent feeds with minimal transfer
• Feeding stress or aversion
Early, comprehensive care improves efficiency, comfort, and parental confidence — while protecting long-term oral development.
Comprehensive Feeding Assessment
Your initial visit includes:
• Full breast and/or bottle feeding observation
• Structural and functional oral screening
• Suck–swallow–breathe coordination analysis
• Resting tongue posture evaluation
• Milk production and milk transfer considerations
• Pumping and flange fitting review (if applicable)
• Personalized feeding plan
• Infant Weight Gain
• We gently screen for how maternal and family
emotional wellbeing and stress may be impacting
grading, ensuring care supports both baby and family
We do not promote one feeding method over another.
We help you build a plan that aligns with your goals and your baby’s physiology.
Bottle Feeding Assessment in Alberta
Functional Support for Breast, Bottle & Mixed Feeding
Bottle feeding is not one-size-fits-all
We help families:
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Choose appropriate bottle shape and flow rate
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Protect breastfeeding during mixed feeding (breast and bottle feeding)
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Optimize pumping efficiency and flange fit
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Support exclusive pumping plans
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Improve feeding coordination and stamina
We assess:
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Oral motor coordination
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Tongue mobility and posture (screening tongue and lip tie)
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Flow tolerance
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Positioning and pacing
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Airway considerations
Our goal is efficient, comfortable feeding — not short-term convenience.
Tongue & Lip Tie Evaluation in Alberta
Functional Assessment — Not Just Structural Screening
Many families are told their baby “has a tie.”
Structure alone does not determine treatment.
Our evaluation examines:
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Oral tissue structure
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Functional latch and suction
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Feeding efficiency
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Muscle coordination
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Resting posture
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Airway patterns
We ground every recommendation in functional impact and developmental timing.
When appropriate, we collaborate with trusted release providers, dentists, physicians, and allied professionals across Alberta to ensure coordinated care.
Pre-and Post-Frenectomy Care
If release is clinically indicated, preparation
and follow-up are essential.
Pre-Release
• Parent education and informed decision-making
• Suck training and oral motor preparation
• Feeding stabilization
• Collaborative communication with release provider
Post-Release
• Wound management guidance
• Suck retraining
• Feeding reassessment
• Rest posture integration
• Ongoing lactation or bottle support
A procedure changes structure.
Therapy supports function.
Supporting Oral Function as Your Baby Grows
Early muscle patterns influence:
• Speech clarity
• Nasal breathing
• Jaw development
• Orthodontic stability
We help establish:
• Tongue-to-palate posture
• Coordinated feeding mechanics
• Reduced compensatory tension
• Strong functional foundations
Serving Families Across Central Alberta
In-person appointments available in:
• Red Deer
• Sylvan Lake
Virtual consultations available throughout Alberta.
Begin With a Comprehensive Feeding Assessment
If you are navigating breastfeeding challenges, bottle feeding questions, pumping concerns, or tongue/lip tie concerns — we are here to guide you with clarity and collaborative care.