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Baby making smacking sound while bottle feeding


Bottle Feeding Trouble – What Do I Look For? l TEAM 4 Kids

Bottle Feeding Trouble – What Do I Look For?

It can be hard to know if your baby’s feeding troubles are normal or if he/she requires feeding therapy. Below are some warning signs to look for as you bottle-feed your infant:

 

  • Is your baby’s lip curled under? When typical babies latch, the protruded part of the bottle nipple is fully in their mouth and their lips are placed around the wider base of the nipple. His/her top lip should be extended and relaxed without being curled under itself.
  • Is your baby making a smacking sound while sucking? When babies suck on their bottle nipple, their tongue makes a wave-like motion. When this motion is not done correctly, they will make a smacking sound while sucking. This can possibly lead to difficulties such as fatigue, not eating appropriate amounts of food, increased gas, etc.
  • Is your baby consistently coughing, gagging, or do they have wide eyes while feeding? These are warning signs that could mean your baby is not able to feed correctly using their current nipple. This can possibly lead to difficulties such as fatigue, not eating appropriate amounts of food, etc.
  • Does your baby seem to be working very hard to suck their formula out of the nipple? This could mean your baby is not able to feed correctly using their current nipple. This can possibly lead to difficulties such as fatigue, not eating appropriate amounts of food, etc.
  • Is your baby not eating an age-appropriate amount of food? Always check with your pediatrician to find out how many ounces your baby should be consuming. On average, 0–4-month-olds should be consuming 3-4oz every 4 hours. 5–6-month-olds should be consuming 6-8oz every 4 hours.
  • Does your baby seem to suck a lot of times without pausing to take a breath? The number of sucks before a breath varies based on a baby’s age. When they are younger, they usually take 3-10 sucks before a breath. As they get older, this range can grow to 10-30 sucks.
  • Is your baby taking longer than 30 minutes to consume their bottle? This is a warning sign that he/she is having difficulties with a certain part of the feeding process or possibly one of the other difficulties listed above.

    • If you notice these warning signs happening consistently over a few weeks, schedule your complete feeding evaluation with an infant feeding therapist by calling TEAM 4 Kids at 1-800-376-3440. An infant feeding therapist will be able to make appropriate recommendations and put together a treatment plan to correct these struggles.

     

     

    Whitney Stefanski MS, CCC-SLP

    Tags: bottle feeding tips, Cooking for kids, feeding for babies, feeding therapy for babies Glendale AZ, feeding therapy for infants Avondale AZ, feeding therapy for infants Goodyear AZ, Feeding therapy for kids Avondale AZ, feeding therapy for kids Peoria AZ, feeding therapy for kids Surprise AZ, food therapy for toddlers Avondale AZ, pediatric feeding therapy near me, pediatric therapists Peoria AZ, pediatric therapy center Buckeye AZ, pediatric therapy center Glendale AZ, Pediatric Therapy Services Surprise AZ, Picky eating in Arizona, Recipes for picky eaters, smart pediatric therapy Goodyear AZ, Therapy for kids in Surprise AZ, Therapy for picky eaters Avondale AZ, Therapy for picky eaters Peoria AZ, Therapy for picky eaters Surprise AZ

    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.

    You may also like:

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    How to breastfeed - Tips for feeding with and without a bottle from Philips-Ukraine

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    Like all the best things in life, breastfeeding can be both exciting and daunting. Preparing for breastfeeding brings many delightful moments, but for many mothers-to-be, they are overshadowed by thoughts about the problems that breastfeeding can bring. Understand that concerns are part of the process, but clear answers to questions about breastfeeding will help you calm down and gain confidence and peace of mind.

    Is your baby not latch on? Are your nipples cracked? Are you experiencing pain while breastfeeding? Know you are not alone. On this page you will find tips and tricks to help you solve these problems. We are always there and ready to help, but our advice does not replace the advice of your doctor. If you are concerned about problems with breastfeeding, be sure to consult with a specialist.

    1. "My baby can't latch"

    Baby needs time to learn how to latch on properly. Don't be too hard on yourself, you'll be fine. A baby's inability to latch on properly is one of the most common breastfeeding problems and one of the reasons why breastfeeding sometimes hurts.

    If your baby does not latch on, you may have problems. When, despite efforts, you are unable to achieve proper fixation of the nipple, you need to seek help. How to understand that the baby takes the breast incorrectly?

    • You feel pain in your nipples while feeding.
    • Baby only latch on to the nipple.
    • The baby draws in his lips.
    • Baby makes clicking noises or smacks loudly.
    • The child is nervous after trying to feed.
    • Your milk supply decreases over time even though you feed regularly.
    • The baby is losing weight.

    Here are some breastfeeding tips to help your newborn learn to latch on properly:

    • Create a calm atmosphere. The secret to successful feeding is to always stay calm and relaxed. Lie down on a bed with pillows under your back, or sit in a comfortable chair.
    • Make skin-to-skin contact with baby . Place your baby on your bare chest so that his skin touches yours. Body contact will help both of you relax.
    • Don't force your baby to breastfeed. Let him take the initiative during feeding. You will want to guide and support the child in his efforts, but in no case force this process.
    • Find a comfortable position. Sometimes it's all about position. Some positions work, others don't. Try to vary them during feeding and find one in which it will be easier for your baby to latch onto the breast.
    • Use correct technique. Place your nipple on your baby's nose and lightly tickle it to activate his instinct. Then the baby will open his mouth wide and will be able to capture most of the areola.

    2.

    "My nipples hurt"

    You may experience sore nipples in the first few days after giving birth. But that doesn't mean you have to endure the pain. Breastfeeding pain can have several causes, from skin sensitivity to uncomfortable nursing positions. The following tips will help you solve the problem in the first few days:

    • Express milk. It is very important that the baby emptys the breast completely during feeding. If you feel that after feeding you have milk left, it is better to express it.
    • Get into the correct starting position. Make sure your baby latch on properly during feeding. With proper feeding, the nipple and the lower part of the areola are in the baby's mouth.
    • Try hot and cold compresses. Use a gel pad to cool your breasts or apply a warm compress. Compresses combined with massage will help relieve inflammation of the nipples.

    If the pain persists, seek the advice of a lactation specialist who can help you choose the right treatment. Don't let the problem run its course. If timely action is not taken, milk production may decrease or mastitis may develop.

    3. "My nipples are cracked"

    Another problem well known to breastfeeders is cracked nipples. It often occurs as a result of a shallow latch on the breast, when the baby does not latch on enough breast tissue and instead sucks only on the nipple. As a result, the nipples become inflamed and cracks appear on them. Measures should be taken in a timely manner to relieve pain and eliminate the risk of infection.

    Our recommendations will help relieve sore nipples and make breastfeeding comfortable for you and your baby:

    • Wet nipples with expressed breast milk. Don't be surprised! Breast milk can be successfully used to heal cracked nipples. Apply a few drops of breast milk to sore nipples and let it dry naturally.
    • Stimulate milk flow before feeding. Apply a warm compress to the inflamed area and express before feeding. This will stimulate the flow of milk.
    • Protect sore nipples with special nipples. During the treatment of sore nipples, wear special pads. They can help relieve chest pain while breastfeeding. In addition, nipple shields will relieve any discomfort you may experience while breastfeeding. After each feeding session, apply a special cream to the nipples, it will moisturize the nipples and help relieve inflammation.
    • Protect your nipples between feedings. Use a protective pad to protect sore nipples from chafing on clothing between feedings. Place pads in your bra cups to help prevent nipple irritation. In addition, the pads will collect excess milk. Bra pads can be used to prevent breast milk stains on clothes.
    • Choose the best feeding position . Usually, in order to keep the baby at chest level, it is enough to put a pillow. You can choose any other position, as long as it does not cause pain and cracking of the nipples.
    • Feel free to ask for help . If the cracks don't heal or you have other problems, don't hesitate to ask for help. Talk to your doctor.

    4. “My baby is coughing while breastfeeding”

    New mothers usually experience a large flow of breast milk during lactation. If the flow is too strong at the time of feeding, the baby begins to choke, cough or spit up milk. Usually this problem goes away on its own when milk production stabilizes, but it's good to know a little trick to help control the situation:

    • Scissorhands technique. Control the flow during feeding by gently pinching the nipple between your index and middle fingers and applying pressure to the areola.
    • Reclining position or pumping before feeding. To reduce milk flow, try feeding your baby in a semi-recumbent position. Expressing a small amount of milk before feeding will also help reduce flow

    5. "I have flat or inverted nipples"

    Every woman's body is beautiful in its own way, and no two pairs of breasts are the same. Women's nipples come in many shapes and sizes. For some they are flat, for others they are retracted, for others they are large.

    It is important for successful feeding that the baby latch on well. Extra effort is required to help the baby latch on to an inverted or flat nipple. If you are the owner of such nipples, know that in fact you are not alone: ​​up to 10% of women have a similar feature 1 . Here are some helpful tips for breastfeeding moms with flat or inverted nipples.

    • Help yourself with your fingers . Try to grab the nipple with your fingers and pull it back.
    • Consult a doctor. If you are concerned about the condition of the nipples, do not hesitate to contact a specialist.

    Take good care of your breasts

    If you feel pain or discomfort when breastfeeding, know that it happens, but this is not a reason to endure gritting your teeth. Whether it's your first breastfeeding or your fourth, the mother-baby duet sounds different each time, and each new feeding experience is unlike the last. If you learn how to properly care for your breasts, the process of feeding will bring you real pleasure.

    Getting to know your baby every day is part of the amazing journey of motherhood. Breastfeeding will allow you and your baby to experience many precious moments together, enjoying intimacy and well-being.

    1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S09609776976

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      Why the baby smacks while feeding. What the baby wants: learning to recognize the baby's signals

      The birth of a child 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 solutions:

      • incorrect;
      • 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.

      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 breast 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 child's age 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.

      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.

      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.

      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 grip;
      • 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 hot flashes

      The main reason for a baby to smack his lips while 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 the feeding 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.

      Short frenulum

      If the baby clicks his tongue while bottle feeding and 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 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 may observe excess air getting in 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 have simply overdone it, sucked persistently, and was 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:

      • 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 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: