FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
ATP Affiliate Membership
Affiliate membership of the Association of Tongue-tie Practitioners (ATP) is open to health professionals (for example nurses, midwives, Health Visitors, doctors, dentists, osteopaths, speech and language therapists) and breastfeeding supporters (including breastfeeding peer supporters, breastfeeding counsellors, and lactation consultants) who have an interest or role in supporting parents of babies with tongue-tie and would like to benefit from sharing professional experiences.
Social Media Support
ATP Infant tongue-tie Support Group for Healthcare Professionals and IBCLCs
Join Facebook GroupClosed facebook support group
Infant Tongue-tie UK Support Group for Parents and Caregivers
Join Facebook GroupFacebook support group for public access
Resources to aid your learning
FRENULOTOMY THEORY TRAINING
All enquiries should be directed to the provider, not The Association of Tongue-tie Practitioners.
Hazelbaker Lactation Institute
Using the Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function™©
Professionals need reliable tools to support babies regardless of the feeding method. Dr. Hazelbaker created The Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function™© (ATLFF™©) as a result of her work developing, formalizing and codifying the diagnostic criteria for tongue-tie in infants. The ATLFF™© remains the only valid and reliable tongue-tie screening and assessment tool for infants under six months of age regardless of feeding method. This module incorporates step-by-step instructions and video segments that demonstrate the proper use of each component of the ATLFF™© and provides learners a comparison of classification, assessment, and screening tools.
CEUs: 1.5 L-CERP
Course Price: $50.00 (USD)
https://hazelbakerinstitute.com/course/using-the-assessment-tool-for-lingual-frenulum-function/
Alison Hazelbaker:
https://www.ourbirthjourney.com/courses
- Maxillary Lip Tie: Fact or Fiction?
- To clip or not to clip: The evidence.
- Tongue-Tie: A journey from past to future
- Using the Assessment tool for lingual frenulum function
- Classifying infant sucking problems
- Faux tie: When is a tongue-tie not a tongue-tie?-Assessment and treatment of tongue-tie and lip-tie: Cognitive errors, ethics and differential diagnosis
- Torticollis: Causes, impact on breastfeeding, and solutions
- Plagiocephaly: Causes, impact on breastfeeding and solutions
- Anatomy of infant suck
- Physiology of infant suck
- 7 strategies for resolving infant sucking problems when bodywork is inaccessible
https://hazelbakerinstitute.com/hazelbaker-lactation-institute/education-catalog/
Sarah Oakley Lactation
Tongue-tie and Infant Feeding Online Course
This course, which is available online and on demand and takes around 10 hours to complete, is suitable for professionals who divide tongue-tie and want to do an update, and for those involved in assessing and/or supporting families with tongue-tied infants including: Midwives, Health Visitors, IBCLCs, Breastfeeding Counsellors and Peer Supporters, GPs and other medical professionals, Dentists, Speech Therapists, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Cranial Sacral Therapists, Doulas and Maternity Nurses. The content has also been used to prepare practitioners who are training to divide tongue-ties.
There are five modules and includes a mix of text, videos and quizzes:
- Module one looks at tongue-tie anatomy and potential causes of tongue-tie.
- Module two covers how tongue-tie can impact feeding and tongue-tie assessment.
- Module three explores how tongue-tie is treated and and the evidence base behind this.
- Module four focuses on supporting families in accessing diagnosis and treatment and strategies to support babies with tongue-tie to feed better pre and post division.
- The final module looks at myths and controversies including disruptive wound management, speech issues, dental issues and concerns about airway and sleep disorders.
There is an opportunity as part of this course to attend my tongue-tie and feeding clinic near Cambridge for a day to observe and learn so you can link the theory with this course to practice. You will also be given access to a Facebook group for sharing ideas and information, asking me questions, discussion of cases you may be seeing and so on.
The course includes a mix of text, videos and quizzes.
It has been awarded 10 L CERPS.
Booking and more information see:
https://sarahoakleylactation.co.uk/courses/tongue-tie-and-infant-feeding-on-line-course/
Tethered Oral Tissue: Trends and Truths E-Course
Tethered Oral Tissue: Trends and Truths E-Course
This 1-hour webinar reviews the anatomy of infant oral frenula, reviews the research evidence for division of oral frenula, and explores the impact of misinformation on tongue tie release.
- Infant oral anatomy
- Demographics and rates of frenotomy
- Classification of tongue ties
- Tools for evaluating tongue ties
- Evidence regarding posterior tongue ties, and its association with other pathology
- Management of ankyloglossia
- Contraindications to frenotomy
The Infant Feeding Academy
Tongue-tie Assessor Award
Comprehensive Training in Infant Feeding Tongue-tie Assessment and Support
Led by Dee Bell RM, IBCLC, Specialist Tongue-tie Practitioner.
Designed for professionals working with babies under one year, the Tongue-tie Assessor Award combines flexible online learning with robust clinical assessment, case-based mentorship and direct, face-to-face support. This is the ideal next step for those looking to elevate their practice and work as a recognised assessor in both NHS and private settings.
Dee is also available to travel to NHS Trusts or to train practitioners in private practice with an existing caseload.
Your enrolment also includes a full year’s support within The Infant Feeding Academy, providing exclusive access to our thriving community of infant feeding practitioners, ongoing CPD resources, and peer-supported learning through our dedicated IFA Hub.
Why choose The Infant Feeding Academy? Unlike basic theory-only courses, our training is structured, clinically grounded, and includes real-time monthly supervision and mentoring. You’ll be learning from Dee Bell, a Registered Midwife and IBCLC with years of hands-on experience who’s supported thousands of families and trained hundreds of professionals.
We don’t just give you information — we teach you how to apply it with confidence.
What’s included:
- 7 on-demand training modules
- Assessed reflective workbooks (Modules 1–4)
- Module quizzes to consolidate learning
- Access to a full library of royalty-free resources for use with clients
- Membership to the IFA Hub for continued support and learning
- 11 live online group mentoring and supervision sessions
- 4 reviewed case study reflections
- 2 clinic-based case studies
- One in-person mentored clinic day
- Full accreditation and certificate awarding L-CERPS
Also available:
Supporting Families with Infant Tongue-tie – Certificate Level
A fully online, self-paced course offering a strong foundation in tongue-tie support, ideal for professionals ready to deepen their understanding.
- Includes our 'introduction to understanding tongue-tie masterclass'
- Bite-sized training videos
- 4 reflective e-workbooks
- End-of-module quizzes
- 11 L-CERPs
- Private Facebook community for ongoing support
Introduction to Understanding Tongue-tie Masterclass
- Perfect if you're just starting out or need a refresh on core concepts. Covers anatomy, terminology and key feeding challenges.
- Instant access
- Workbook and quiz
- L-CERP certificate
Learn more: www.theinfantfeedingacademy.co.uk/tongue-tie-assessor
Questions? Email us at:
info@theinfantfeedingacademy.co.uk
Tongue-tie Assessment
The video clip shows part of an assessment for tongue-tie
Assessment of a Tongue Tie video curtesy of Sarah Oakley, Registered Nurse, Health visitor and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
Cleft Palate Assessment Poster
The Cleft palate team are keen to hear your thoughts on this poster and if this has helped to change your practice through assessment. This is for use 'far and wide' and can be shared accross all disciplines.
Please share any feedback to jane.sibley@ouh.nhs.uk.

Who can assess for a tongue-tie restriction?
Baeza CK, Watson-Genna C, Murphy J, Hazelbaker A, Kaplan M, Martinelli RLdC, Marchesan I, Douglas PS, Smillie C (2017) "Assessment and Classification of Tongue-Tie" Clinical Lactation 8(3) p93-98 doi:10.1891/2158-0782.8.3.93.
Brooks E (2017) "IBCLC Scope of Practice for Tongue-Tie Assessment" Clinical Lactation-Tongue Tie Expert Roundtable vol 8(3) doi: 10.1891/2158-0782.8.3.121.
La Leche League USA (2020) Tongue tie and Lip ties https://lllusa.org/tongue-and-lip-ties#:~:text=An%20IBCLC%20cannot%20diagnose%20a,you%20suspect%20a%tongue%20tie.
Oakley S (2017) "The Health Visitor's role in supporting families with tongue-tie babies"
British Journal of Health Visiting https://doi.org/10.12968/johv.2917.5.12.594
