Newborns are delicate, and as parents, it is only normal to pay attention and show concern for any behavior that is found strange. Does your newborn lip quiver while breastfeeding? Don’t worry; this occurrence is a lot more common than you think.
While there may be several attributable factors to this, the most common culprit is their immature control of their lip and facial muscles.
In this article, we will look at the phenomenon of newborn lip quiver while breastfeeding in detail and other things you can be mindful of as they approach 1, 3, 9, and 11 months.
Why Does My Baby’s Lip Quiver When Breastfeeding?
As puzzling as baby lip quivering can be, there are times when you should be worried and see a doctor. There are also cases where you do not have to worry and the pattern will stop as they grow. Let’s look at some of the most common probable causes of baby lip quivers and things to look out for to know when you should see a doctor.
1. Developing Muscles and Reflexes
The most common reason a baby’s lips quiver during breastfeeding is their developmental stage. At this phase of the newborn’s life, their muscles, including those in the lips and mouth, are still developing. And because these muscles are not fully mature, complete control of their lip movements is not possible.
Latching onto the breast and sucking effectively requires a bit of complex reflexes, and the quivering often happens in an attempt to do this.
2. Sucking and Swallowing Reflexes
Babies are born with innate sucking skills. The quivering of their lips can be a result of their attempt at sucking or their learned rhythm for sucking. As they get used to the sensation from breastfeeding and learn to latch on more effectively, the quivering will reduce and eventually stop.
3. Muscle Control and Coordination
The coordination of various muscle groups is necessary for successful breastfeeding. During the initial days, they may struggle with lip control, which can manifest as lip quivering. As they practice and gain experience, their muscle control and coordination improve, leading to less quivering during breastfeeding sessions.
4. Immature Nervous System
Newborns have immature nervous systems. This immaturity is what causes the quivering as they try to latch on and suckle. Their nervous system is still adapting to the external stimuli, and as it develops, the lip quivering tends to decrease over time.
5. Learning Process
Lip quivering can be viewed as a part of a baby’s learning process. They are learning how to latch on to the breast, how to suckle effectively, and how to coordinate their reflexes. Quivering lips are often a sign of their effort and determination to master these processes.
6. Comfort and Attachment
For many babies, the act of breastfeeding goes beyond nourishment as it’s a source of comfort and emotional connection. The lip quivering might also be a result of their contentment and attachment to their mother. This emotional component of breastfeeding is a beautiful aspect of the mother-baby bond.
When Does Lip Quivering Become a Concern?
There are times where lip quivering becomes a sign of am underlying problem and medical attention should be sought. Here are a few signs to know when lip quivering should be a cause for worry:
1. Excessive Quivering
If the lip quivering becomes severe, prolonged, or appears to be causing discomfort to the baby, you should see a doctor.
2. Difficulty Latching
Lip quivering that is accompanied by difficulty latching onto the breast could be a sign that there is an issue with the baby’s latch, which may require correction.
3. Weight Gain Concerns
Babies are meant to gain weight as they grow. Where this weight gain is not observed and there are not taking in adequate milk, you should consult your healthcare provider.
Why Do Babies Vibrate Their Lips?
Babies vibrating their lips either during breastfeeding or after breastfeeding can be due to different reasons.
1. Muscle fatigue
A lot of muscle coordination and effort is needed for breastfeeding. The first few breastfeeding sessions in the first weeks of the baby’s life can be tasking on their muscles as they are still developing. This can cause muscle fatigue and make their lips quiver.
2. Hunger
Hunger and not getting fed immediately cause them to start to show hunger signs, which may make them suck aggressively. This aggressive attempt at latching and sucking can cause their lips to quiver.
3. Cold
Cold is another common cause of newborn lip quivering. If your baby is cold, they may shiver, and this can also cause their lips to quiver.
4. Sleepiness
When babies start to feel sleepy, they may drift off to sleep while breastfeeding. This can cause their lips to relax and quiver.
5. Teething
The teething phase can be a challenging one. This makes them put their gum on everything including the nipples. This can cause lip quivering.
Read Also: Signs Your Toddler is Teething
Some Medical Causes Of Lip Quivering
1. Tongue tie
Tongue tie is a condition in which the frenulum, that is the band of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too short. This can make it difficult for babies to latch on properly and breastfeed and can also cause lip quivering.
2. Cleft lip
Cleft lip is a birth defect in which the upper lip does not form completely. This can also make it difficult for babies to effectively latch on and breastfeed. Cleft lip can also cause lip quivering.
3. Reflux
Reflux is a condition in which stomach contents empties up into the esophagus. This can cause a variety of symptoms, including lip quivering.
4. Seizures
Seizures are caused by sudden eruptions of some kinds of electrical activity in the brain. They can cause a variety of symptoms, including lip quivering.
Baby Bottom Lip Quiver 1 Month
The quivering of the bottom lip of your baby by 1 month is most likely a result of their immature and developing muscles as they try to latch and breastfeed. This type of quivering tends to resolve as they grow.
Baby Bottom Lip Quiver 3 Months
Although by 3 months, the muscles are stronger than they are at 1 month, they are still quite immature. It is still normal to notice occasional quivering at 3 months but likely not as much as their first month.
Baby Bottom Lip Quiver 9 Months
By 9 months, the facial muscles and muscles controlling the lip are stronger than they were at the first few months of their life. Quivering is likely to be very minimal at this point. If quivering is still like it was in their first few months, you should see a doctor.
Baby Bottom Lip Quiver 11 Months
At 11 Months, they are only a few weeks from the one year milestone and as such quivering is expected to be very little or absent. Where you notice intense quivering or quivering of the lips along with other symptoms, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.
Read Also: Is It Normal For a Baby To Sleep With Their Mouth Open?
When Does Baby Lip Quiver Stop?
As said earlier, normal lip quivering is caused by developmental limitations and is something a baby outgrows. However, the age or point at which they outgrow this differs for each baby.
For many babies, three to four months is when they gain significant control over their lips, so quivering reduces drastically. Other parents may notice that the quivering lasts well into their sixth and seventh month.
Moreover, parents should have their little ones get medical care if the quivering does not seem to reduce or resolve as they grow older. It’s also a good thing to pay attention to other signs that may accompany the lip quivering, especially when there are no improvements as they grow.
Conclusion on: Newborn Lip Quiver while Breastfeeding
Newborn lip quivering is often a source of worry for many parents but it’s usually nothing serious. It’s a temporary thing that resolves with time. Giving breaks in between breastfeeding sessions can help baby’s muscles relax and reduce the occurrences of quivering. Feeding as soon as they show cues of hunger also helps.
