Baby clicking when bottle feeding

Why does my baby click when they eat? — Mattos Lactation

Read time | 10 minutes

When I wrote on the causes of clicking during breastfeeding last year, I had no idea that it would quickly move to the first page of google.

I knew hearing clicking noises during feeding was a common occurrence for parents, but I couldn't have imagined that a short, poorly written post would become my highest performing post to date, with over 3,050 views since posting.

While my understanding of clicking during infant feeding hasn't changed much, my ability and desire to create easy to understand, in-depth blog posts has increased.

Therefore, I want to tackle this topic again, but in a manner that is true to me, resulting in an article that I don't shake my head and wonder, "Shondra, what were you thinking to post this unhelpful, pointless trash?"

What is Clicking?

In this context, clicking describes a short, sharp sound created from a baby's mouth. It sounds similar to a "tsk tsk" sound one makes if they're demonstrating disapproval (or "tut-tut" for my UK folks), though some might better relate to the ICONIC tongue popping sound popularized by the queen Alissa Edwards.

When it comes to baby, the clicking sound isn't as sharp or consistent as tongue pops made by adults, but once you're familiar with the general sound, identifying clicking variations during infant feeding becomes easy.

What causes clicking?

Clicking is caused whenever there is a loss of suction. This can happen both at the breast or on the bottle, and may or may not be seen in conjunction with more obvious signs of "breaking the seal" such as leaking.

How the clicking noises sound- sharp and bright or muffled- can depend on which part of the tongue loses suction, which also explains why for some, milk spilling from the baby's mouth accompanies the clicking, and for others, there's just the sound.

Note: There can be leaking without clicking too, which also provides useful information for troubleshooting feeding difficulties.

Is clicking a problem?

Though I would argue that clicking sounds aren't normal, I wouldn't say it's always a problem.

For example, if your baby makes the occasional clicking noise or if it's during a time of intense breast fullness, there's generally nothing to worry about.

Consistent clicking during feeding, however, especially in conjunction with other signs of feeding difficulties, such as nipple pain, slow weight gain, coughing, choking, gasping, panting, unlatching, grimacing, should be evaluated, even if it occurs during bottle-feeding.

Why is my baby making clicking noises?

There are many reasons possible causes for clicking.

Poor positioning/latch
A strong, forceful letdown
Engorgement
Poor tongue mobility/function (Such as tongue tie)
A weakness of the tongue
Inability to maintain a seal due to weak muscles or restricted lip (lip tie)
Body tension or physical limitations such as Torticollis
Hard Palate abnormalities
Submucosal cleft
Ear Infections
Thrush

Let's take a look at each case separately.

Poor latch & positioning

Oft, the phrases latch & position are used synonymously. Still, they describe two distinct steps- the latch refers to how your baby's mouth attaches to the breast or bottle and position relates to your baby's physical arrangement and orientation in space and in regards to the feeding parent.

To make it easy

Latch = mouth. Position = body. Latch =/= position.

A baby's position can, and often does, affect how effectively a baby latches and how well they can transfer milk ( a whole different & distinct step of feeding!)

An issue with the latch OR the position can cause clicking in some babies, in which case, mastering the latching technique and finding the right feeding position to support your baby's feeding ability may be all that's needed to achieve quiet feeding.

The act of mastering latching is many times easier said than done. Even after reading this excellent FREE 24-page latching guide, some parents will need additional latching support and troubleshooting.

Luckily, even if you live in an area short on IBCLC's, there are often many experienced lactation professionals who can help with latching basics and refer when necessary if tailored latching help doesn't resolve the issue.

A strong, forceful letdown

Just as some are "blessed" (or "cursed" depending on who you ask) with very robust milk supplies, some are "blessed" with an extraordinary rate of milk flow.

Though forceful letdowns & oversupply often go hand and hand, forceful letdowns (Overactive Milk Ejection Reflex [MER]) can happen in those with "typical" milk supplies. However, the underlying cause may be different. For example, full breasts often accompany oversupply, which may result in a forceful letdown due to the pressure build-up inside the mammary glands. The first letdown, and even the second, may be mighty as the breast releases the milk with a force that rivals Niagra Falls.

With Overactive MER, rather than the force stemming from milk volume, the power is due to an overachiever reaction on the part of the pituitary gland( which sends out the hormone that tells the 'milk sacs' to contract and send the milk out the breast).

As you may imagine, regardless of the cause, your baby can easily become overwhelmed with the rate of milk and release tongue suction to allow milk to spill from the sides of their mouth so they can breathe.

If the flow rate is the cause of the clicking, strategies tailored for managing overactive letdowns, along with more upright & laidback feeding positions, should resolve the clicking.

Engorgement

This cause is pretty simple: Full, taut breasts are hard to grasp on to, so during periods of intense engorgement or fullness, clicking may occur.

Resolve the swelling or reduce breast fullness, and the clicking should stop.

Poor tongue mobility/function (Such as tongue tie)

Poor tongue function is NOT always caused by tongue-tie, however, tongue-tie often causes poor tongue function thus impacting its range of motion (mobility).

There are many stages of the feeding and swallowing process, and a limited function of the tongue can impact each of the required steps.

The clicking sound associated with poor oral function due to tongue-tie can be broken down to this straightforward overview-

A tight frenulum doesn't allow your baby's tongue to raise to the proper placement for easy feeding OR the effort it takes your baby to overcome the resistance of a tight frenulum is such that they quickly get tired and start to lose suction.

Reduced tongue mobility is the most common cause of persistent clicking I see. There is such a strong association with clicking and tongue ties, that clicking alone is enough to prompt a tie suspicion even in the absence of "typical tongue-tie appearance."

A weakness of the tongue

The tongue is a group of muscles, and with any muscles, it can be or become weak. Weakness may be a byproduct, which is commonly seen with tongue-tie and explains the need for tongue strengthening exercises pre and post revision, but can be a stand-alone cause of clicking.

It takes an experienced and highly trained professional (such as IBCLCs who specialize in supporting tied babies) to be able to differentiate between limited tongue function caused by weakness vs. reduced tongue mobility caused by ties.

Inability to maintain a seal due to weak muscles or restricted lip (lip tie)

There is a profound link between tongue mobility and many other structures of the body (see below), to include the lips and surrounding oral muscles. Any weakness or limitation of any oral anatomy has the potential to impact tongue function.

Body tension or physical limitations such as Torticollis

See above. Insert body tension/physical limitation in place of muscle weakness/lip tie.

Hard palate abnormalities

The hard palate is the bony part of the roof of the mouth. We expect the palate to be intact with a gradual slope.

Sometimes there are abnormalities in the palate, be it due to congenital defects (such as cleft palates) or due to abnormal development caused by a lack of appropriate palate pressure in utero (ex: bubble palates).

During breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, the palate provides a platform for stabilizing the breast/teat in the oral cavity. Palatal abnormalities can impact stability, and clicking can result.

Submucosal clefts/ Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI)

Generally speaking, clicking sounds often come from the anterior portion of the mouth, and some may argue that clicking doesn't occur with submucosal clefts or VPI.

I wanted to add this category because how parents and providers interpret clicking is subjective. And because clicking noises already vary in sound and intensity, I don't think it's too much of a stretch to include sounds that may be loosely considered clicking.

Milk leaking from the nose during feeding is a classic symptom of submucosal clefts/VPI and will always require a referral for further evaluation. However, sometimes a soft puffy "clicking-esque" noise may be present due to loss of suction of the soft tissues near the throat and would also warrant a referral.

Ear Infections/ Thrush

Thrush & ear infections both can change the way your baby eats, and temporary clicking may occur. Once the thrush or ear infection resolves or the pain disappears, the clicking noises should stop as well.

I'll admit, I'm biased, but ff your baby suddenly starts to click and around the same time, you notice you're having some breast pain, it would be good practice to schedule a lactation consultation. During the consult, we will assess what's causing the pain and develop a care plan to reduce the discomfort.

As you may see, there are a lot of possibilities for your baby’s clicking. In many cases, when clicking persists despite position changes and after engorgement passes, the clicking is due to something structural.

I often find myself asking if there’s any clicking present during feeding when parents complain of pain, slow weight gain/weight loss (baby), and low supply.

The reason?

Babies need a proper seal to maintain vacuum pressure to transfer milk effectively and efficiently.

Many times parents are told that clicking is typical, or that there are no issues with their baby’s noisy eating, even though they sound similar to the baby below.

The baby in this clip is NOT feeding efficiently at all. Continued poor feeding is often very stressful for babies (and parents) and can lead to long term feeding aversions. Clicking may be the only noticeable sign of dysfunctional feeding, especially when babies are gaining weight or having appropriate diaper output.

If your baby is making clicking noises that persists or if they leak, gulp, gasp, pant, pop off or grimace and fuss while feeding (bottle or breast), please download this DIY Oral Assessment worksheet.

Once completed, you will have a better understanding of your baby’s oral strengths and weaknesses. The sooner we find solutions to make feeding easier for your baby, the better. You can book an appointment here.

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Shondra MattosFebruary 17, 2020Comment

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Baby Clicking While Bottle Feeding? Reasons & How to Fix It

Babies make a wide range of noises which they use to communicate with their caregivers long before they produce their first word. Aside from the typical sounds such as crying, cooing, and gurgling, babies are also capable of making sounds while they feed, to indicate contentment, discomfort, and even difficulty feeding.

A clicking sound while bottle feeding usually indicates a loss of suction and/or repeated attempts to get a good latch on the bottle nipple. If you notice your baby making clicking sounds while drinking from a bottle, the quickest fix is just to take the bottle out of their mouth, reposition it, and try again.

There are a few reasons why your baby might make a clicking sound while feeding, such as an improper or shallow latch, incorrect nipple size, teething, and even an ear infection. Once you figure out the underlying reason for the clicking, you can work on fixing the problem and getting a good experience out of bottle-feeding your baby.

What Makes the Clicking Sound?

Just like with breastfeeding, bottle-fed babies need to get a good latch on the silicone nipple to feed properly. A clicking sound might occur when your baby isn’t able to suck on the bottle nipple properly, and ends up sucking on their tongue or cheeks instead.

The clicking is produced similarly to the “tsk tsk” sound you might make to express distaste, although it might not be as loud or clear as an adult would make it.

While hearing your baby clicking while feeding can be concerning, it is not always a bad sound to hear.

While consistent clicking with every feed is a concern that suggests a feeding issue that needs to be addressed quickly, the odd click here and there while feeding isn’t necessarily something to worry about, provided that your baby is otherwise healthy, feeding well, and gaining weight.

Reasons Why You Hear A Clicking Sound While Bottle Feeding

Poor Latching

A good latch on the bottle nipple is just as important as a good latch on a human nipple. The techniques for getting a good latch on a bottle nipple are fairly simple and similar to the techniques used for a breastfeeding latch.

Use the tip of the bottle nipple to tickle your baby’s lip and nose. This will stimulate their rooting reflex and get them to open their mouth wide. Insert the nipple with the bottle angled up towards their hard palate.

Check to see that the nipple is positioned over and not under the tongue. The protruding tip should be entirely inside their mouth. Gently push their lower lip upwards to help them seal their lips around the nipple until they latch on completely.

Body and Bottle Position

The wrong body posture can make it hard for your baby to maintain a proper latch on a bottle nipple. Hold your baby to your chest at a 45-degree angle and hold the bottle horizontally with a very slight tilt. An angled baby bottle may also be more ergonomic and allow for a better latch with upright feeding.

It is also important that you keep a comfortable position while holding the bottle for your baby. You can use a nursing pillow to prop your baby up and reduce the amount of work your arms need to do to support them.

Nipple Flow Rate

As you may know, bottle nipples come with different sizes or numbers of holes, to allow for different levels of milk flow. Using a nipple with too high or low of a flow rate can make it difficult for your baby to feed properly and cause them to click.

Signs of a nipple flow rate being too high include milk leaking out from the sides of your baby’s mouth, gulping, coughing, gasping, or sputtering while feeding, and finishing bottles very quickly (in less than five minutes). Your baby may also struggle to swallow in between sucks when milk is coming into their mouth too quickly.

Signs of a nipple flow rate being too low include flattened or collapsed nipples from your baby sucking too hard, taking more than half an hour to finish feeding, and eating less and getting hungry quickly after feeding. A too slow flow rate may also cause your baby show signs of frustration by crying, squirming, or pulling away from the bottle.

Generally, you’ll want to start with the slowest flow rate available for that particular nipple and move up as needed. There are also recommendations for nipple flow rates by age, as can be seen here.

Incorrect Nipple Shape

If the nipple tip is too long or too large, your baby may gag on it or push it out of their mouth to avoid gagging. Gagging, grimacing, shallow latching, and clicking may mean that the nipple is too long for them and you may need to switch to a shorter or smaller nipple.

The shape of the bottle nipple matters too. With a breastfed baby, you want to choose a bottle nipple with a gradual slope and narrower base that will allow your baby to take all of or most of the silicone portion of the nipple into their mouth and seal their lips close to the O-ring collar, much like they would with a deep breastfeeding latch.

With bottle nipples with a narrow tip and a suddenly wide base, your baby may end up sucking on the tip like a straw. Dimpled or hollow cheeks are usually a sign of straw drinking. They may also try to take the base into their mouth, creating an air pocket that will prevent a proper seal from forming and cause them to swallow more air while feeding.

Nipple Tip Shapes

Generally speaking, bottle nipples that bear a similar rounded bulb shape to a human nipple are best for breastfed or combination-fed babies. You want your baby to maintain the same oral posture at the bottle as they do at the breast. This helps prevent nipple confusion and potential pain or damage to your nipple later on.

Orthodontic nipples that are flat on one side and rounded on the other (like lipstick) are designed to prevent teeth misalignment and malocclusion. The rounded side rests against your baby’s palate, while the flatter bottom and tapered sides put less pressure on your baby’s teeth and jaw.

Orthodontic nipples may also be easier on a teething baby’s gums and a pediatric dentist may recommend switching to one once your baby begins teething. If you think your baby’s clicking is related to teething soreness, ask a pediatrician or a dentist about using an orthodontic nipple.

Teething

Your baby may be using the bottle nipple like a teether, chewing on it to massage their gums instead of sucking on it to draw milk out. Help relieve the soreness in their gums before a feed by offering a cold teether for a few minutes before you bring out the bottle.

Tongue and Lip Ties

Tongue ties are caused by a shortened lingual frenulum, aka the bit of tissue that anchors your tongue to the floor of your mouth. Lip ties are similar – the labial frenulum, which connects the underside of your upper lip to your gumline is abnormally shortened.

Tongue ties and lip ties limit the range of motion of the oral structures that would normally assist in sucking and swallowing. Clicking sounds while feeding is a common symptom of tongue and lip ties.

A frenectomy is usually done to release tongue ties and lip ties. Using scissors or a laser, a surgeon cuts and modifies the tissue to allow the affected structure, in this case, the tongue or the lip, to move normally. The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia and causes little to no pain or discomfort. Babies can feed immediately following the procedure.

Temporary Illness

Some mild illnesses and infections can cause your baby to change the way they feed, causing them to click. Clicking that occurs while your baby is sick will most likely resolve once they get better.

Congestion

If your baby has a cold and is congested, they will need to break the seal to breathe through their mouth every few sucks.

Using a rubber bulb syringe or nasal aspirator can help clear the mucus from their nasal passages and allow them to breathe through their nose while feeding. Saline nasal drops can also help loosen the mucus and make it easier for them to breathe through their nose.

Ear Infections

Sucking and swallowing can cause pressure changes in the middle ear that may exacerbate ear infection pain. When a baby has an ear infection, they may change the way they latch on to a bottle to make themselves more comfortable. They may also repeatedly break the seal as a way to relieve pressure.

Thrush

While oral thrush is easily treatable and rarely serious, it does cause itching and soreness in your baby’s mouth, which may cause your baby to click and break the seal around the nipple.

Cleft Lip or Palate

Often, babies with a cleft lip only (no palate involvement) can feed well enough with normal breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. There are also bottle nipples shaped to help babies with clefts eat properly.

A cleft palate, on the other hand, opens up the division between the oral and nasal cavity, making it difficult for babies to create the pressure vacuum that allows them to suck. It can also interfere with the normal function of the muscles that facilitate swallowing at the back of the mouth.

Some types of cleft palate are not always visible. Submucosal cleft palates are covered by a layer of mucosa (tissue) and may be missed during a newborn oral exam. There are, however, common signs of submucosal clefts, such as a bifid (split) uvula, and a pale bluish tint along the roof of the mouth.

A speech-language pathologist that specializes in pediatric feeding may be able to help you find techniques that can help your baby feed well. Clefts that are diagnosed at birth are usually repaired through surgery within the first 18 months of life.

The baby clicks when feeding what to do. Causes of clatter when feeding a baby

The birth of a baby usually forces a young mother to pay attention to any state of the baby: how he sleeps, eats, reacts to the environment, what sounds he makes. The latter is especially true for feeding, because we know that with proper attachment to the breast, the baby should not make any extraneous sounds. But it also happens that the child seems to click or smack his lips when feeding. Why is this happening and is it harmful to the baby?

A characteristic smacking sound made by an infant during suckling indicates that a small amount of air is swallowed along with milk. Of course, any baby can make smacking sounds when feeding. If this happens rarely and is not accompanied by regurgitation or restless behavior, then there is no reason to worry.

However, in some cases, this can provoke discomfort in the tummy, colic, regurgitation and hiccups, a small weight gain, and therefore it is necessary to sort out the causes of smacking in advance and try to eliminate them.

Usually a child smacks his lips in three cases, each of which has its own ways of solving:

wrong;
sucking during a rush of milk;
short hyoid frenulum.

Apply correctly

Smacking is often a sign of improper attachment to the breast. Incorrect latch on of the nipple causes the baby to swallow a certain amount of air, resulting in tummy discomfort, frequent spitting up and hiccups.

The breast should only be fed into the wide open mouth so that the baby captures not only the nipple, but also most of the areola (i. e., the areola). At the same time, the baby's lips are slightly twisted and relaxed, and the inflated cheeks move to the beat of sucking. If the chest is pushed back a little, then you can see how the tongue of the crumbs wraps around the lower part of the halo. In the case of a "sliding" of the child on the nipple, you need to pick up the breast and offer it again.

It is necessary not only for the baby to stop smacking during feeding, but also for successful painless feeding, because in most cases it is the cause of cracked nipples.

Hot flashes and feeding

Sometimes it happens that the baby, despite the correct grip on the nipple, smacks during a rapid flow of milk, because. simply does not have time to make swallowing movements in time. This usually happens in the first months of breastfeeding when milk production has not yet been established. Over time, this reason will resolve itself when lactation becomes mature, and before that, a nursing mother can express milk a little to give the child the opportunity to eat without choking.

Short bridle

Another reason that the baby smacks during feeding is a physiological feature in the form of a short, dense frenulum or attached to the very tip of the tongue. Because of it, the movements of the tongue are limited, the child does not get a good grip on the nipple, and as a result, he constantly releases it, which causes characteristic sounds.

Along with smacking, another sign of a short frenulum is a long stay of crumbs at the chest: it takes him more time to eat.

short bridle

A pediatric dentist can help confirm or refute suspicions about the length of the bridle. If it is really too short and inelastic, the doctor will trim it slightly. This procedure is safe, very fast and does not require hospitalization: you can immediately go home after it.

Of course, sometimes the frenulum is cut under general anesthesia: this is usually the case when the frenulum is so short that the tongue seems to be fused to the floor of the mouth, but this is quite rare.

Bridle cutting will save you not only from feeding problems, but also save your child from possible difficulties associated with breathing, learning speech, bite formation and correct posture.

Responsibility for the health of the child lies primarily on the shoulders of his mother, so do not hesitate to ask the doctor stupid or trifling, in your opinion, questions. If you are worried about some phenomenon, even seemingly as mundane as smacking while feeding, it is better to seek advice and help from a qualified specialist. This will help allay your fears or prevent future complications.

New sounds that a baby makes are always a reason for the joy of every mother. But if the baby clicks during feeding, this may indicate frenulum defects and improper attachment to the breast. This behavior of the crumbs alarms many women, especially if he behaves restlessly at this time.

Clicking the tongue is a characteristic of almost every baby. There is no reason for the mother to be alarmed if this happens extremely rarely and does not entail any consequences. Restless behavior or frequent regurgitation can be cause for concern.

In fact, new mothers face such a problem and often the older generation (especially grandmothers) can escalate the situation. For most women, this behavior of their crumbs amuses and brings joy, because he has learned something new.

The ingress of air along with mother's milk causes the child to click his tongue while sucking in his sleep.

In some cases, if a child clicks his tongue in his sleep, this can lead to painful sensations in the baby's stomach, hiccups, colic and spitting up, and he will also gain little weight. In any case, you need to figure out the reasons for the clatter and find out when they need to be eliminated, and when you can leave everything as it is.

Why does the baby smack when feeding:

strong flushes of milk;
incorrect breast latch;
frenulum under the tongue.

Every mother should learn to feel her baby and understand when something really bothers him, and in which case grandmothers just tell myths. Observe the newborn and make sure he suckles correctly. If there are no problems with attachments, and the baby captures the entire nipple and areola, then the reason may be in strong hot flashes, when the baby simply does not have time to suck.

If the previous two problems are not confirmed, then it is worth paying attention to the hyoid frenulum. The baby smacks his tongue when breastfeeding if it is short.

Proper attachment and flushing

The main cause of lip smacking during breastfeeding is improper attachment to the breast. If the nipple and areola are not completely captured, the baby will swallow a certain amount of air along with milk, and as a result, he will be disturbed by bloating and colic.

Real hunger. Before offering a breast to a baby, you should make sure that he really wants to eat. The process of feeding should be only when the baby is hungry, it is not recommended to accustom him to the fact that you can play with the breast in your mouth or constantly be like with a dummy. This will facilitate the mother's day regimen and will be useful for the child.

Correct application. To prevent the baby from smacking while suckling, his mouth should be wide open, fully occupied by the nipple and approximately 80% of the areola. The lips should be relaxed and slightly turned out. The cheeks are slightly puffed out, and the beat of breast sucking can be seen from them. If you look closely, it will be noticeable that the tongue completely clasped the areola from below. In the case when the baby has slipped and sucks only the edge of the nipple, you need to take the breast from him and offer it again.

Proper breastfeeding is necessary not only for the newborn to stop clicking, but also for breastfeeding to be painless for the mother, and for the baby to form the correct bite. Improper attachment can cause cracked nipples.

Strong lactation. If the baby smacks his lips during breastfeeding, even if the attachment was correct, this may indicate that he does not have time to swallow milk due to the rapid rush. This is possible from the first months after birth, when the lactation process has not yet returned to normal. To prevent the baby from choking during feeding, the mother needs to express a little milk until the problem is solved.

Bridle

If the baby clicks his tongue while bottle feeding and while breastfeeding, this may indicate a short frenulum. This is the name of the physiological feature when the frenulum is attached to the edge of the tongue. This causes incorrect capture, because the baby's tongue movements are limited. For such children, it takes a little longer to eat and they begin to lose weight.

Only a highly qualified pediatric dentist can tell whether a child has a short or long frenulum. If it is short and not elastic, the doctor suggests trimming it. This procedure is performed in a dentist's office for a short time. With a child, you do not have to go to the hospital, because after the procedure you can immediately go home.

In some cases, cutting under general anesthesia is possible. This applies to those children whose frenulum is so short that the tongue seems to be completely rooted to the bottom of the mouth. This anomaly is extremely rare. If it was decided to cut the bridle, this will help to establish feeding, save the baby from breathing problems and speech defects, and also form the correct bite.

The problem that a child clicks his tongue in his sleep is quite common. Every mother is responsible for her baby and it is very important for her to understand the reasons for such behavior. It is also worth determining which of the above applies directly to her child.

Eliminating the cause is sometimes simple: you just need to correct the process of attachment to the breast of a newborn and improve lactation. In some cases, a more serious solution to the problem is possible - you will have to stretch or cut the bridle.

In the first days of his life, the baby sucks up to 30 ml of milk. While he eats, he learns to distribute his breath, control his entire process, tries to swallow and suck correctly. However, all this is quite difficult and the child swallows air when feeding from a bottle, which accumulates in the ventricle and causes pain.

Why does the child swallow air?

When the baby is in a hurry and eats quickly, parents can observe the ingress of excess air along with the baby's food. As a result, there is anxiety and tearfulness of the baby.

The reasons for swallowing air during feeding can be the following:

does not grip the nipple correctly. In this position, the baby smacks when feeding from a bottle, grabbing air droplets along with milk;
when the bottle is in the wrong position. Make sure there is always formula in the nipple during feeding;
when the opening in the nipple is too large or cracked. The child swallows air when feeding from a bottle, at the same time choking on milk;
with greedy sucking. Droplets of air masses enter the ventricle of the crumbs along with the mixture;
incorrect body position. The head is low, it is difficult to breathe. To make breathing easier, the baby, along with milk, tries to swallow more air masses. In such a situation, you need to find a comfortable position for the child.

Why is the child breathing heavily? Up to a month, the breathing of the baby always occurs unevenly. This is considered the norm. As well as gurgling, wheezing. Often mothers are worried about why a newborn breathes heavily after bottle feeding. There is no particular reason for excitement here.

The baby could simply overdo it, persistently sucked, tired. The nasal passages of infants are narrow. The nose is small. Over time, this passes. There is no particular cause for concern here. Some babies, on the contrary, breathe heavily during the feeding itself. They sniffle, grunt, push.

Why is the baby clattering? This action may occur during feeding. First, check the position of the bottle. The baby clicks when feeding from a bottle, poorly grabbing the nipple. Secondly, perhaps a short bridle, a short tongue. In this case, you need to consult a doctor.

Try to give the nipple deeper, pull out the tongue of the crumbs before feeding. A strong clatter can be observed when the hole in the nipple has resolved and the baby, eating, begins to choke. Therefore, the pacifier needs to be replaced.

What should I do if my child swallows air?

There are two ways to help your baby:

hold the child on your knees, support the back. Gently stroke your tummy;
hold the baby in a "column". His head should touch his mother's shoulder. Lightly pat him on the back. The air masses will come out quickly. Otherwise, put the child down and repeat the procedure again.

When the baby swallows air while bottle feeding, stops eating, pick him up, hold him, let him burp, continue to feed him.

Whenever your baby finishes eating, let him burp. Then air masses will stop collecting in the ventricle, the baby will not show anxiety.

To make breastfeeding a joy for mother and baby, follow these tips:

give warm mixture only;
tilt the bottle so that the nipple is completely filled and the air masses go to the bottom;
Watch the position of the baby's head. It should be on the same level with his body;
during feeding, you can change the position of the child;
check the hole in the nipple. It should not be too small or too big.;
turn the bottle upside down with the nipple. Milk should drip, not flow;
learn to tell when your baby is full. Don't try to overfeed him.

By following the tips above, you can help your child stop swallowing air. He will not experience discomfort after feeding. The process of eating will go smoothly.

Hello!

Did you look at the frenulum under the tongue?
The description is very characteristic of a short or short frenulum in a child.
A short piece can only be determined by a specialist and trimmed on site if necessary.

Good luck!

Comments:

Thanks for the answer, but the fact of the matter is that the bridle is normal, they checked it. Such sucking became pronounced after a runny nose, which was treated for 3 weeks. And I also have wide milk ducts and milk flows abundantly even with such sucking of my daughter, it often chokes and comes off the breast.

Answered :

Please.

I don't know about you, but in our town you should go to three doctors to check the bridle to be sure. And only one specialist qualitatively looks at the bridle.

It's not about the ducts. And in the oxytocin reflex. Oxytocin causes cells with milk to contract, and milk actively flows to the exit. The stronger the reflex, the more active the release of milk. As the hormones "calm down", the flow will also become weaker.

Do you give pacifiers or bottles to your child?

We do not provide bottles and pacifiers. When a daughter plays, she can stick out her tongue to the lower gums and lips. The pediatrician and the dentist looked at the bridle, the dentist said that the bridle is powerful, but not short. If I don’t teach my daughter how to properly latch on, then when the oxytocin effect fades, she won’t understand where her river of milk has gone?

Responsible :

Perhaps the child does not click, but smack?

There is a test when a mother gives her child her clean finger, with the pad up, that is, towards the sky. Babies suck their thumb as much as they suck at their breasts. It is advisable to wait 3-5 minutes. And try to do this in different states of the child: after sleep, to calm down, when the child is alert and happy, and others. In all cases, sucking must be correct. If at times the child hides the tongue, moves it back and forth, presses only part of the tongue to the finger, not completely, etc., the child does the same with the breast. At the same time, the lips may tighten, the child may try to tuck them inward, pronounced pits may appear on the cheeks from trying to hold the finger in this case, and the finger itself may feel biting.
If sucking is always correct, then indeed the bridle does not interfere with the child, and the question remains on attachment.

If I don't teach my daughter how to latch on correctly, then when the oxytocin effect wears off, she won't understand where her river of milk has gone?

What does "river of milk" mean to you?
If you mean milk flow, then breastfeeding babies are aware that it changes. While the baby is suckling for about 20 minutes, the pressure changes from large to completely drop by drop or nothing, then there is a new tide, again a strong pressure, then less, less and nothing. And so 2-3 times. Babies are aware and continue to calmly suck in any situation.))
If you mean saturation, then nature also provided for this. In the course of growing up and how the child gains strength, as well as the mother's breast cells begin to work gradually a little differently, as a result, the following effect is obtained: in the same 5 minutes of sucking at three months, the child receives more milk than in 5 minutes of sucking in one month. Plus, the milk of a 3-month-old is different from milk in the 1st month of a child's life, according to the new needs of the baby. And outwardly, the chest, on the contrary, looks calmer: softer, less sensations of tides, there may be less pressure. But again, nature has provided mechanisms for the child to receive everything necessary for his age.
Indeed, it remains to organize the correct application for high-quality breast stimulation. Then the child will definitely get everything that is intended.

If it is not possible to organize the correct attachment, then it remains unclear how wrong it is. There are babies in whom it requires adjustment, but it does not affect weight gain critically, and babies can gain at least.

It is still worth trying to find a consultant for a face-to-face meeting and resolve this issue personally.
Look, there are options http://akev.info/spetsialisty-akev/rossiya/10161-volgograd.

All the best!

Causes of clatter when feeding a baby.

Why does a baby click when suckling

Causes

Clicking tongue is a characteristic of almost every baby. There is no reason for the mother to be alarmed if this happens extremely rarely and does not entail any consequences. Restless behavior or frequent regurgitation can be cause for concern.

The ingress of air along with mother's milk causes the child to click his tongue while sucking in his sleep.

In some cases, if a child clicks his tongue in his sleep, this can lead to painful sensations in the crumbs' abdomen, he begins to have hiccups, colic and spitting up, and he will also gain little weight. In any case, you need to figure out the reasons for the clatter and find out when they need to be eliminated, and when you can leave everything as it is.

Why does the baby smack when feeding:

violent flushes of milk;
incorrect breast grip;
frenulum under the tongue.

If the previous two problems are not confirmed, then you should pay attention to the hyoid frenulum. The baby smacks his tongue when breastfeeding if it is short.

Proper attachment and flushing

Proper breastfeeding is necessary not only for the newborn to stop clicking, but also for the feeding to be painless for the mother, and the baby to form the correct bite. Improper attachment can cause cracked nipples.

Bridle

Why does the child swallow air?

When the baby is in a hurry and eats quickly, parents can observe the ingress of excess air along with the baby's food. As a result, there is anxiety and tearfulness of the baby.

Causes of swallowing air during feeding can be the following:

does not grip the nipple correctly. In this position, the baby smacks when feeding from a bottle, grabbing air droplets along with milk;
when the bottle is in the wrong position. Make sure there is always formula in the nipple during feeding;
when the opening in the nipple is too large or cracked. The child swallows air when feeding from a bottle, at the same time choking on milk;
with greedy sucking. Droplets of air masses enter the ventricle of the crumbs along with the mixture;
incorrect body position. The head is low, it is difficult to breathe. To make breathing easier, the baby, along with milk, tries to swallow more air masses. In such a situation, you need to find a comfortable position for the child.

The kid could just overdo it, persistently sucked, tired. The nasal passages of infants are narrow. The nose is small. Over time, this passes. There is no particular cause for concern here. Some babies, on the contrary, breathe heavily during the feeding itself. They sniffle, grunt, push.

What should I do if my child swallows air?

There are two ways to help your baby:

take the child on your knees, support the back. Gently stroke your tummy;
hold the baby in a "column". His head should touch his mother's shoulder. Lightly pat him on the back. The air masses will come out quickly. Otherwise, put the child down and repeat the procedure again.

When the baby swallows air while bottle feeding, stops eating, pick him up, hold him, let him burp, continue to feed him.

Whenever your baby finishes eating, give him a chance to burp. Then air masses will stop collecting in the ventricle, the baby will not show anxiety.

To make breastfeeding a joy for mother and baby, follow these tips:

give warm formula only;
tilt the bottle so that the nipple is completely filled and the air masses go to the bottom;
Watch the position of the baby's head. It should be on the same level with his body;
during feeding, you can change the position of the child;
check the hole in the nipple. It should not be too small or too big.;
turn the bottle upside down with the nipple. Milk should drip, not flow;
learn to tell when your baby is full. Don't try to overfeed him.

Using the tips above, you can save the child from swallowing air. He will not experience discomfort after feeding. The process of eating will go smoothly.

Many young mothers are concerned about the question: "Why does a baby or an older child smack his lips?". What does the child demonstrate with these signals, is it worth worrying or is there no reason for concern? Let's look into this in detail.

Why does a baby smack his lips

Sucking reflex

Smacking can be caused by various reasons. If this is a baby, then this may be due to the so-called "sucking reflex". The baby has a need to suckle. Even full, the baby smacks his lips. These sucking movements seem to soothe and relax him. Busy with sucking, the child quickly falls asleep. Smacking in a dream is not a pathology or any deviation. So an overexcited baby relieves stress. Bathing with lavender before bed, chamomile decoction and mother's stroking will help the baby feel more comfortable and protected. During the day, a little man, as a rule, experiences a ton of emotions and he needs to calm down. Smacking in a dream is a manifestation of a kind of self-defense. When he eats, he calms down. Here is the baby's body and imitates "feeding" in a dream.

Conditioned reflexes in babies from 3 months of age

By the third month of a baby's life, congenital reflexes (sucking, swallowing) are supplemented with conditioned ones, which appear as a result of the child's getting used to the surrounding conditions. So, for example, if you put a baby in a normal feeding position, he can smack his lips.

Everyone also knows that sleep has 2 phases - "fast", during which we, adults, see dreams, and "slow" - sleep without dreams. In infants, the first type of sleep prevails: babies smack their lips, as if in a dream they are sucking their mother's breasts.

Feeding reasons

Many young mothers are concerned about the question: is there enough milk for the baby? In fact, it is not so difficult to determine this. You just need to follow the signals that the baby himself gives. Early signs that a baby is hungry are:

baby opens and closes mouth
sticks out tongue;
smacks his lips;
is looking for breasts;
turning head.

Why does the baby smack when feeding:

strong flushes of milk;
Incorrect chest grip.

It is necessary to observe the baby and make sure that he suckles correctly at the breast. If there are no problems with this, and the baby captures the entire nipple and areola, then the reason may be in strong hot flashes, when the baby simply does not have time to suck.

Correct application. To prevent the baby from smacking while sucking, his mouth should be wide open, completely occupied by the nipple and approximately 80% of the areola. The lips should be relaxed and slightly turned out, the cheeks should be slightly puffed out, and the beat of breast sucking can be seen from them. If you look closely, you will see that the tongue completely wraps around the areola below. In the case when he sucks only the edge of the nipple, you need to take out his breast and offer it again. Proper breastfeeding is necessary not only for the baby to stop clicking, but also for the feeding to be painless for the mother, and the baby to form the correct bite. Improper attachment can cause cracked nipples.

Strong lactation. If the baby smacks his lips during breastfeeding, even if the attachment was correct, this may indicate that he does not have time to swallow milk due to the rapid rush. This happens in the first months after birth, when the lactation process has not yet returned to normal. So that the baby does not choke when feeding, the mother needs to express a little milk. The elimination of the cause is as follows: you need to establish the process of attaching the baby to the breast and lactation.

Why older children smack their lips

If the age of the child is older, then this may be due to psychological reasons. The psyche of the child is still fragile and very vulnerable. Various experiences, stressful situations, change of scenery - all this affects the behavior of the child. The kid can kick his legs all night, roll over from side to side, talk in his sleep and smack his lips. It is imperative to observe during the day how the child's day goes, whether he is overexcited. Often this happens when the child is just starting to go to kindergarten and adaptation is underway. Even the cancellation of sleep during the day is also a moment for experiences.

But there are other reasons why such night sounds can occur. Sometimes the reason lies in the wrong bite. In a sleeping child, the muscles are in a relaxed state and the jaw may drop slightly, and smacking may be heard. This is not a disease and is easily eliminated at an early stage.

And another reason may be problems with the gastrointestinal tract, when when bile is thrown into the esophagus, there may be reflex swallowing, while the child smacks his lips. In this case, an appeal to medical specialists is required. The most correct thing in this situation is a comprehensive examination of the baby by a psychologist, a gastroenterologist.

You will learn what to look out for if your baby is clattering while feeding.

Breastfeeding is essential for every baby. After all, breast milk increases the immunity of the baby and is perfectly absorbed.

But often questions arise that some mothers cannot find answers to. It happens that the child eats for a long time and at the same time smacks his lips. What could this mean.

There can be only two reasons for this.