What Your Child's Face Is Telling You

This guide helps you notice early signs of how your child's jaws and face are developing — for children ages 0–8. Tap any category below to read what to look for.

Tongue

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Tight band restricting the tongue's movement — tongue-tie

Tongue lifts freely to the roof of the mouth — full range of motion

Tight tongue band (tongue tie)

Was / is breastfeeding difficult?

Tongue tip looks heart-shaped or notched when extended or lifted

With mouth open wide, tongue tip cannot touch the roof of the mouth (palate)

Difficulty with certain sounds — d, n, l, t, r, th

Breathing

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During the day

Breathes mostly through the mouth

Breathes loudly

At night

Sleeps with mouth open

Snores or breathes noisily during sleep

Moves or is restless during sleep

Mouth Posture at Rest

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Lips apart at rest

Mouth mostly open during rest (during TV, reading, quiet time…)

Eating & Chewing

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Picky eater

Prefers mostly soft foods

Open-mouth chewing

Chews with visible effort in the face

Habits

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Thumb or finger sucking

Pacifier use — frequent or prolonged

Nail biting

Lip biting or sucking

Chewing on objects — toys, clothing, pencils, hair

Sleep

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Teeth grinding

Wakes frequently during the night

Tosses and turns during sleep

Drooling during sleep

Bed wetting

Sleepwalking