I’m joined by Dr Suraj Vatish, dental surgeon and lead at the Tongue Tie & Breathing Centre (Happy Kids, Chelsea). We unpack what a tongue tie really is, why “can they stick it out?” misses the point, how ties affect feeding, sleep, speech and breathing, and why aftercare + multidisciplinary support matter just as much as the release itself.

What we cover

• The biggest myths (incl. the “stick it out” test)

• Functional definition: elevation > protrusion

• Sleep/breath/eat: the three pillars tied to tongue function

• Lip ties and what Dr Suraj is observing clinically

• Laser vs scissors — safety, visibility, healing

• Aftercare: exercises, bodywork, OMT, suturing in older kids

• Do all ties need treatment? Anterior vs posterior

• Is tongue tie a “fad”? History & context

• Building a team: OMT, SLT, osteopathy, paediatrics, ENT, orthodontics

Guest
Dr Suraj Vatish — @svatishdds (Instagram)
Happy Kids Dental — Tongue Tie & Breathing Centre (Chelsea, London)

I’ve tried the scripts. The co-regulation. The whispered apologies. I’ve kneeled down at eye level and told myself, “this is what gentle parenting looks like.” But still—nothing seemed to work.

In this episode, I’m sharing something I posted recently that’s brought me a weird sense of relief: maybe it’s not that I need to parent better. Maybe my child just needs to breathe and sleep better.

Because when your child is chronically congested, mouth breathing, waking constantly, or living in fight-or-flight—none of the parenting techniques stick. Their body can’t receive it.

This one’s for the parents blaming themselves. For the ones over-analysing every reaction, wondering what they’re doing wrong.

You’re not failing. You’re just working with a nervous system that needs more support.

Let this episode take some weight off.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:13 The Impact of Sleep and Breathing on Parenting

00:58 Personal Experiences and Realisations

01:56 Challenges of Modern Parenting Techniques

03:04 The Importance of Addressing Sleep Disorders

05:44 Recognising Symptoms and Seeking Help

09:10 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

When Dr Kathleen Schuster’s daughter started snoring, having nightmares, and acting “not like herself,” Kathleen didn’t just see a phase — she saw red flags.

In this powerful conversation, Kathleen shares how she navigated swollen tonsils, chronic infections, and mounting pressure for surgery — and what actually helped her daughter breathe, sleep, and grow better without going under the knife.

We talk about:

• Why mouth breathing wrecks the body

• How growth, behaviour, and breathing are all connected

• What to try before surgery

• The power of early intervention, tongue exercises, and myofunctional therapy

• And why most parents are still being left in the dark

This one’s for any parent who's been dismissed, gaslit, or told their child will “just grow out of it.” There’s another way — and you deserve to know about it.

Resources mentioned:

• Dr Kathleen Schuster on Insta

• Tongue Tied – Dr Richard Baxter

• Breathe – James Nestor

• Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic – Sandra Kahn & Paul R. Ehrlich

• Myofunctional therapy app: MyoFitPro

• Myo Munchee

Full show notes on YouTube.

In this episode, I offer a real-world guide for parents preparing for their child’s ENT appointment. We talk through what to expect, what to bring, and what not to take lying down. Because while ENTs can be part of the solution, they’re not the whole story—especially when it comes to airway health, sleep disordered breathing, and myofunctional issues.

I share my own experience of walking into that appointment full of hope and walking out with frustration, realising that if I wanted answers, I’d have to ask the right questions—and know what to look for outside the ENT room too.

What You’ll Learn:

• What ENTs do (and don’t) look for

• How to prep with videos, symptom tracking and the right language

• Why sleep studies matter—and how to push for one

• What they won't tell you about tongue tie, glue ear, and airway health

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the podcast
00:11 – Why ENT matters—but isn’t the full picture
01:46 – My first ENT appointment: expectations vs. reality
03:27 – What to bring: videos, notes, questions, evidence
04:55 – The three to five questions that really matter
08:13 – Sleep apnea in kids: obstructive vs central
11:15 – Final thoughts and what ENT won’t tell you

Whether your child is being referred for snoring, recurrent infections or suspected glue ear, this episode will leave you clearer, stronger, and ready to advocate.

🎧 Listen now—and share with a friend who’s feeling lost in the system.
📲 If this episode gave you language or clarity, share it on Instagram and tag me @parentsofmouthbreathers – it helps more parents find their voice.

In this episode of Parents of Mouth Breathers, I’m laying it all out, the overlooked reality of paediatric sleep apnoea, and what it’s really like trying to get your child’s breathing issues taken seriously.

Sleep apnoea in children isn’t rare. It isn’t harmless. And it certainly isn’t something they’ll just "grow out of." It’s oxygen desaturation, chronic sleep disruption, behavioural issues, missed developmental milestones, and most terrifyingly, it’s often ignored.

I share my story of noticing the signs in my eldest at two and a half: the snoring, the mouth breathing, the ragey mornings and puffy eyes. The way he never woke up rested. And how, despite showing GPs videos and flagging every red flag, I was met with smirks, shrugs, and the age-old line: “He’s fine.”

But he wasn’t fine.

From cranial osteopathy and dairy elimination to airway dentists and ENT battles, I talk about the messy, exhausting journey of fighting for a diagnosis, and what finally led to a sleep study and a confirmation of sleep apnoea. I also break down why a multi-disciplinary approach matters, and what parents need to know before blindly opting for surgery.

If your child snores, struggles to breathe at night, or wakes up exhausted and cranky, please listen. You are not overreacting. You are not alone. You are your child’s best advocate.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Paediatric Sleep Apnoea
01:11 – Recognising the Signs and Symptoms
02:19 – Seeking Medical Help and Facing Challenges
03:45 – Exploring Treatment Options
08:29 – The Importance of Advocacy and Awareness
13:25 – Conclusion and Call to Action

Referenced in this episode:
– Breathe by James Nestor
– Jaws by Sandra Kahn and Paul Ehrlich

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts
📲 Share this episode with a parent who needs to hear iT

In this episode of Parents of Mouth Breathers, I share my personal journey of advocating for my son’s airway health.

I talk about the struggles and challenges I faced in getting my son’s sleep-disordered breathing issues acknowledged and treated. I offer practical advice for other parents in similar situations, focusing on the importance of trusting your instincts and relentlessly pursuing proper medical assessments and treatment.

I also discuss strategies for documenting symptoms, requesting specific referrals, and navigating both the NHS and private healthcare systems.

My goal is to validate your concerns as parents and empower you to advocate effectively for your children’s health.

00:00 Introduction to Parents of Mouth Breathers
00:29 Personal Experiences and Reassurance
02:10 Understanding My Son's Symptoms
03:44 Challenges with Medical Professionals
05:53 Exploring Alternative Treatments
07:13 Practical Steps for Advocacy
09:42 Navigating the Medical System
11:53 Private Avenues and Alternatives
13:25 Parental Determination and Support
17:21 Conclusion and Encouragement

If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from hearing it. You can also follow me on Instagram and visit Parents of Mouth Breathers for more updates and resources. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode!

In this episode, I share the deeply personal and frustrating journey of discovering that my son’s behaviour, speech delays, and social struggles weren’t defiance, they were signs of undiagnosed glue ear.

We talk about:

• What glue ear is and why it’s so often missed

• The signs we overlooked at home and in nursery

• How airway health and glue ear are linked

• Why so many children are labelled before they’re properly heard

• What finally made a difference—and how it changed everything

This one is for the parents who feel like something’s off… and are tired of being told it’s “just behaviour.”

00:00 – Welcome & intro: the hidden impact of glue ear
01:15 – First signs: “He ignored me.” But did he really?
03:00 – Behaviour, not disobedience: connecting the dots
05:05 – Doubts at home: the guilt, the second-guessing
07:20 – A second nursery flags a concern: instinct reawakened
08:45 – Building the case: what to track before going to the GP
10:50 – Hearing test #1: the start of clarity
12:20 – What is glue ear? A simple explanation
13:50 – Why glue ear is more common in mouth breathers
15:40 – Study spotlight: research linking airway dysfunction & glue ear
17:30 – The rollercoaster of NHS testing & waiting
19:10 – Antibiotics, infections & fluctuating results
20:25 – Hearing test #5 and a long-awaited diagnosis
21:40 – Finally: hearing aids—and the moment it all changed
23:20 – “Mummy, I can hear the birds.”
24:10 – The emotional aftermath: relief, guilt, and clarity
25:30 – Glue ear isn’t always obvious—it hides in plain sight
26:50 – Why hearing loss can mimic behaviour disorders
28:00 – Action steps for parents: what to say, do, and ask
30:00 – Final message: you’re not imagining it. You’re observing it. Keep going.

• 📥 Free Guide: 10 Signs Your Child Might Be a Mouth Breather

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In this episode of Parents of Mouth Breathers, I talk about the overlooked issue of tongue tie and its potential long-term effects on children's health.

Drawing from personal experiences with my two sons, I discusses the different manifestations and consequences of tongue tie, including feeding difficulties, sleep apnea, and mouth breathing.

I highlights the challenges in getting proper diagnosis and treatment within the NHS and shares insights from medical professionals on the impact of untreated tongue tie on airway development and overall well-being. I encourages parents to trust their instincts and seek help from private practitioners if necessary.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:09 Understanding Tongue Tie01:34 Personal Experiences with Tongue Tie03:10 Challenges with the Healthcare System05:45 The Second Son's Struggles09:26 Seeking Private Treatment15:52 The Eldest Son's Procedure17:45 Unexpected Complications24:24 Final Thoughts and Advice

Referenced Studies
Want to dive deeper into the research mentioned in this episode? Here are some of the clinical sources that informed my journey and this conversation:
– Guilleminault et al. (2016): Short lingual frenulum linked to sleep apnoea
– Baxter & Hughes (2017): Posterior tongue tie and sleep
– D’Onofrio (2019): Tongue posture and facial growth
– Hang (2007): The airway-focused orthodontic perspective
– Yoon et al. (2017): Frenuloplasty and OSA symptom relief in children
– Guilleminault et al. (2014): Mouth breathing and dentofacial development

Podcast: Parents of Mouth Breathers
Host: Natasha | @parentsofmouthbreathers

In this episode, I explore the powerful insights from James Nestor’s bestselling book Breath—and how it completely changed the way I see my son’s symptoms.

I cover:

• How mouth breathing reshapes the body

• Why carbon dioxide matters just as much as oxygen

• How breath affects the nervous system, behaviour, and sleep

• What modern habits have done to our children’s faces—and what we can do about it

This book gave me language, validation, and a way forward. I hope it offers the same for you.

00:00 – Introduction to Parents of Mouth Breathers
00:29 – Discovering Breathe by James Nestor
01:41 – The Impact of Mouth Breathing
03:34 – Anthropological Insights
05:52 – The Importance of CO2
09:18 – Breath & the Nervous System
11:46 – Modern Breathing Problems & What We Can Do
14:27 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways

📖 Book:

🎧 Podcast Interview:

📄 Further Reading:

In this episode of 'Parents of Mouth Breathers' host Natasha addresses the overlooked issue of children's breathing and sleep problems often dismissed by medical professionals.

She shares her personal journey of discovering her child's airway health issues and introduces listeners to renowned experts like Dr. Christian Guilleminault, Dr. Kevin Boyd, Dr. Steven Lin, Patrick McKeown, Sharon Moore, and Dr. William Hang.

Natasha emphasises the importance of recognising signs of airway dysfunction, such as snoring and persistent congestion, and highlights practical steps parents can take to improve their child's health.

She encourages listeners to seek knowledge, ask better questions, and take proactive measures for their children's well-being.

00:00 Introduction to Parents of Mouth Breathers

00:13 Natasha's Personal Journey

01:34 Introducing Dr. Christian Guilleminault

04:28 Modern Voices in Airway Health

11:56 Signs of Airway Dysfunction in Children

14:30 Taking Action and Seeking Help

16:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts