What to Know About High-Arched Palates in Babies
A high-arched palate is a narrow, elevated roof of the mouth that can impact things like feeding and speech.
Common causes include tongue tie, genetic conditions, and prolonged sucking behaviors.
Early support from healthcare providers and specialists can help guide palate development and address related challenges.
When you’re getting to know newborn Baby, you probably spend a lot more time gazing at their adorable little pout than peeking inside their mouth (understandable!). But believe it or not, the shape of Baby’s palate (aka the roof of their mouth) plays an important role in everything from feeding to speech development.
Baby’s palate starts forming in the womb and continues to harden throughout childhood. While palates come in all shapes and sizes, some variations—especially a high-arched palate—can make things like latching, breathing, and learning to talk a bit more challenging.
Let’s take a closer look at what a high-arched palate is and what it might mean for your little one.
What is a high-arched palate?
Typically, a baby’s palate has a wide U shape—about 1 inch across and 0.3 inches in depth (from the gum line to the highest point on the roof of their mouth). This is about as wide as a pacifier nipple and as thick as 4-5 quarters. A high-arched palate is much narrower and taller than this average size, giving the roof of the mouth a steep, skinny U shape.
What causes a high-arched palate in babies?
A high-arched palate may form during pregnancy or after birth while Baby’s mouth is still growing and changing. Here are a few common causes:
Tongue tie. When the tongue can’t move freely, it doesn’t press against the palate to widen it naturally and keep this shape as Baby grows.
Genetic conditions. Some conditions, like Down syndrome and Crouzon syndrome, affect palate shape due to differences in skull and facial bone structure.
Prolonged sucking behaviors. Excessive thumb-sucking or pacifier use can cause Baby’s palate to develop a narrow shape.
What things can a high-arched palate affect?
Because the palate is involved in so many daily functions, a high-arched shape can impact several areas of Baby’s development. Here’s how:
Feeding
A high, narrow palate can prevent Baby from getting a strong latch during breast or bottle feeding. You might notice a clicking sound as they try to create suction—this could be a sign that the palate is making it tricky for their tongue to seal properly.
Gas or Reflux
Without a solid latch, Baby might take in more air while feeding. That extra air can lead to more gas, reflux, or those cute-but-frequent baby hiccups.
Nose Breathing
A higher palate can block Baby’s nasal passages, meaning their little nose has to work harder to inhale or exhale air—even more so when Baby’s congested. This may cause them to rely more on mouth breathing, which can be less comfortable.
Sleeping
When nose breathing is tricky, Baby may switch to mouth breathing at night. Sometimes, this can lead to sleep disturbances or even baby sleep apnea (yes, it’s a thing!).
Speech
The tongue needs to touch different parts of the palate to form sounds, and a high arch shape can make this difficult. As Baby learns to speak, some sounds may be more challenging to pronounce than others. These include alveolar, post-alveolar, and palatal sounds. Some examples of these are:
Alveolar: T or /t/, as in “toy”; N or /n/, as in “pan”
Post-alveolar: SH or /ʃ/, as in “share”; R or /ɹ/, as in “run”
Palatal: Y or /j/, as in “you”, “loyal”
Teeth Development
A narrow palate gives Baby’s teeth less room to come in, which may lead to dental concerns like crossbites, crowding, or impacted teeth later on.
Can high-arched palates be treated?
Yes, and it’s easier to correct while Baby’s palate is still soft and adaptable in the early years.
If it is determined that Baby has a high-arched palate, their healthcare provider may recommend seeing a feeding specialist or speech-language pathologist, who can help widen Baby’s palate with exercises that correct their tongue position and movement. If Baby also has tongue tie, releasing it can help their palate form into a more typical shape, in addition to tongue exercises.
For older children, treatment might include orthodontic devices, like a palate expander, and continued work with specialists to support mouth posture and speech.
Remember, you are your child’s best advocate! If you have concerns about your child’s development, don’t be afraid to share your concerns with their healthcare provider.
