latching latching problems

Is Your Newborn Clicking While Breastfeeding?

If your newborn is clicking while nursing, you’re probably wondering what’s going on—and if it’s something you need to fix.

The good news? Clicking during breastfeeding isn’t always a problem. But it is a clue that something in your baby’s latch could be off, even just temporarily.

Understanding why it happens—and what you can do about it—can make all the difference.

Why Clicking Happens

Hearing a clicking sound while nursing can be confusing. Understanding what causes it can help you feel more confident about what’s happening during your feeds.

Let’s walk through why clicking happens and what it tells you about your baby’s latch.

The clicking noise you hear is simply the sound of suction being lost somewhere in your baby’s latch. Think of it like using a plunger—when you pull it away, it makes a pop. It’s the same idea with your baby.

There are a few common places where suction can be lost:

Causes of Clicking Sounds

The lips – If your baby’s lips aren’t fully flanged out, they may lose suction slightly with every suck.
The tongue – If your baby’s tongue isn’t able to follow their jaw up and down while feeding, it can lose contact—either with the roof of their mouth or with your breast or chest.

Is Clicking Bad?

The clicking sound you hear during breast or chestfeeding, itself isn’t harmful. It doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong, and it doesn’t necessarily mean your baby isn’t getting enough milk.

It’s just information—a clue that something inside your baby’s mouth isn’t working as well as it could in that moment. And that’s okay! Your baby doesn’t need a perfect latch every time they feed.

It’s absolutely normal for your baby’s latch to vary from feed to feed depending on the circumstances.

Were they really hungry – before you latched them?
Were they crying and upset – before they latched?
Is it first thing in the morning – and your milk flow is extra fast because you got an extra hour of sleep (way to go!) and now it feels like Niagara Falls?

These moments can affect your baby’s latch—just like stress and hunger can affect your own table manners. We don’t live in a textbook; we live in real life.

Helping Your Baby

First, get curious. Watch and listen. See if there’s a pattern. Use that to decide whether the clicking is something that needs attention—or some extra stress you can let go of.

If your baby clicks occasionally – especially in the mornings or after longer stretches between feeds, it’s usually nothing to worry about. Remember, clicking is just a symptom. It’s not necessarily a problem.
If your baby is clicking during most feeds – or if you notice other signs that make you concerned about their latch, it may be time to get someone trained in oral function to assess whether everything’s working optimally.

Your Next Steps

Clicking is never something to panic about. It’s just something to be curious about. And if someone tells you your baby’s latch “looks good,” but they’re still clicking while nursing, that tells you they may not be seeing the full picture. If something feels off, trust yourself.

That clicking sound can be a validation that there’s something worth looking into—and you are the expert on your baby.

Does clicking mean my baby has a tongue tie?

No, not necessarily. A tongue tie can be one reason your baby’s tongue movement is restricted and could be causing clicking, but it’s not the only thing that can cause it.

Could my baby have a tongue tie if they aren’t clicking?

Yep! Tongue ties show up in different ways inside a baby’s mouth, and plenty of babies with ties don’t click at all. But they always show other signs in the latch—if you know what to look for.

Does clicking while breastfeeding cause gas?

It could, if your baby is frequently breaking suction. This can cause them to swallow extra air, which is thought to lead to gas. If it happens occasionally, it's unlikely to be a problem.