Palates are shaped in utero and after birth. In utero, restriction of 
the entire head (scaphycephaly) from side to side can produce a very 
narrow face, including the palate. Tongue-tie can cause a narrow palate 
by not allowing the tongue to lift and press against the palate when the 
cartilage is softest.

Breastfeeding with a deep latch using normal tongue movements is one 
vital component of natural shaping of the palate after birth. BUT, if 
the palate is high and narrow and the baby is breastfeeding, look for 
some restriction of tongue mobility. More rarely, there might be a 
genetic disorder if the palate is very unusual looking and the baby has 
other dysmorphic features and difficulties with normal movements/functions.

Some bodywork practitioners seem to be able to at least temporarily 
affect palate shape by adjusting the skull. I have only personally seen 
permanent change when babies have had frenotomies (tongue tie 
treatment), but we have not been tracking palates systematically after 
frenotomy in our study.

Catherine Watson Genna, BS, IBCLC  NYC

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