Is your baby clicking, dribbling or gulping milk down, hearing milk hitting their tummy as they swallow?
Has your baby show symptoms of bottle refusal or bottle aversion?
Nikki Mather at The Baby Element Clinic discusses how optimising bottle feeding latch can support your baby to be comfortable during and after feeds.
Bottle feeding support helps with various situations. Parents may need bottle feeding support due to baby health issues, mum’s health, or supplementing breast milk. It can also empower and support those who choose formula feeding for their babies, and are finding things tricky.
Bottle feeding might seem like a simple process, but a good latch is key to optimising your baby’s comfort. Just like breastfeeding, a proper seal helps your baby get enough milk and avoid air intake. This means less gas, fussiness, and happier feeding time for everyone.
A good bottle latch also protects babies from overeating or having a flow preference or nipple confusion if they switch between breast and bottle. Look for a wide mouth on the teat and encourage your baby to take most of it in their mouth. Watch for lips sealed onto the teat with np gaps at the corner of the mouth, and a rhythmic sucking pattern – that’s a good latch!
Efficient feeding: A good latch ensures your baby can drink in a rhythmic, calm pattern. This ensures they get enough milk without overfeeding, guzzling excessive milk or taking in too much air, which can causes discomfort, gas and general fussiness.
Flow preference or nipple confusion: Narrow teats which cause a shallow latch can make it harder for babies to switch back to breastfeeding.
Happy tummy: An optimum latch on a wide base teat helps prevent babies overeating, stops milk leaking from the corners of the mouth, reducing spills and excess air intake, therefore reducing discomfort for your baby.
There are several reasons why a Lactation Consultant might recommend a bottle feeding consultation:
If your baby is experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is worth seeing a feeding specialist about the issues you are facing and finding solutions for bottle feeding issues.
Why change a bottle feeding latch?
By changing a shallow latch to a deep latch on the bottle, your baby will feed more effectively, taking in less air, settle well between feeds, improve baby’s ability to regulate their own appetite and reduce reflux symptoms.
How to help your baby achieve a deeper latch on the bottle
Hold them close to you, their head tilted back (imagine drinking a glass of water) and place the teat base on their chin to trigger a wide mouth gape – the end of the teat up the nostrils. Aim the nipple towards the roof of their mouth, ensuring they take a deep latch with most of the nipple and base in their mouth. Look for rhythmic sucking and swallowing, and adjust their latch if they’re gulping or leaking milk. Slow-flow teats and regular burp breaks during feeding further enhance comfort and ensures milk is consumed in a good time.
Here are some tips to help your baby get a good bottle latch:
Book an appointment or schedule a free 10-minute call to discover how The Baby Element Clinic can support you and your family. Take the next step in your journey of parenthood today.
