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My baby clicks 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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How To Stop Baby From Clicking While Bottle Feeding?

Baby

ByWinters

Hours

Updated:

Your bundle of joy is here in your lap and feels happy when you are around. Your baby communicates with you by making different sounds and noises when they are happy or cranky.

“Sometimes parents might notice a clicking sound when they start bottle feeding the baby. You as a parent might observe this sound to be a different one. And you will wonder why this clicking sound comes when you feed your baby from a bottle.

Well, the clicking sound starts when your baby is breaking tight seals around the baby bottle nipples that he made with his lips during feeding from the bottle. ”

The next thing is how to stop it. You can stop it by knowing its cause.

Let’s find out why clicking sounds occur and how to stop the baby from clicking when bottle feeding.

What are clicking sounds?

Clicking sounds are produced due to loss of suction. It can occur due to some reasons, out of which some would require a consultation with the pediatrician while some are not to be worried about.

The sound is similar when we touch our tongue with the palate and then push it down. Sounds like “tsk tsk”

Your baby is breaking seals around the nipple of the bottle while sucking from it.

Why is this happening, there are reasons that I will discuss. So keep reading to know more about clicking and how to stop it from happening.

Reasons behind the clicking sounds

There are reasons behind the clicking sounds produced during bottle feeding and these are:

Improper feeding position

If you are feeding your child at the wrong angles then it will cause a clicking sound as the baby is unable to feed in an improper or poor positioning.

Make an angle of 45 degrees so that the baby can easily bottle feed and the mother should also be in a comfortable position. Bad positioning will lead to clicking sounds by the baby when feeding.

The nipple shape is not correct

The nipple shape might be a problem that is interfering with the baby’s bottle feeding and that’s why clicking sounds are occurring. Nipple should have a narrow base and a gradual slope that will allow your baby to take all or most of the silicone portion of the nipple into their mouth and seal their lips.

Nipple size is not correct

The larger the nipple size the faster the nipple flow rate of milk supply. A fast rate of milk flow will cause the inability of the young one to swallow it, it might lead to choking and coughing as well.

If the milk or infant formula is flowing too fast for the baby, you will notice your baby breaking the suction and the milk escaping out of the side of their mouth.

And if the nipple size is small, the slow flow rate of milk will also cause frustration and crying in the baby. And there are chances that the baby will produce clicking sounds as he/she is unable to get the feed properly.

Baby is not hungry

Babies are not hungry all the time and sometimes they use a bottle to comfort themselves by just chewing it. This also produces a clicking sound.

Nasal congestion

In winter it happens most of the time that your baby may get nasal congestion and will give clicking sounds when bottle-fed. These will go away once congestion ends.

To relieve congestion put a drop of nasal saline in the nostrils so that the baby can have milk properly.

Oral thrush

The itching and sore mouth caused by oral thrush will result in clicking sounds. It will go away once you get treatment from your pediatrician.

Ear infection

Another infection that might be troublesome is an ear infection. Babies might exhibit fever and frustration. Sucking and swallowing can cause pressure changes in the middle ear that may increase ear infection pain. Baby will break the seal repeatedly to relieve pressure, and will produce clicking sounds.

Tongue tie

Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a congenital disorder where the infant has a restricted range of movement of his/her tongue.

The tongue-tie condition causes an abnormally short, thick, or tight band of tissue (lingual frenulum) to bind the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth, which may obstruct bottle feeding.

Babies with tongue ties have to swallow milk while feeding. In addition, reduced tongue mobility leads to tiredness resulting in losing suction while bottle-feeding or breastfeeding. This will happen most of the time so it is best to see the doctor. Usually, a surgical procedure relieves this condition.

Cleft palate and lip

Clefts in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate), or both are considered cleft palate and lip. When a kid is growing in the womb, his or her facial tissues must close, but sometimes they don’t. This may cause a cleft lip or cleft palate.

The biggest challenge will be feeding and the baby will produce sounds due to improper latching or shallow latch. Surgical intervention can correct it.

Teething

At around 6 or 8 months your baby will chew on a bottle due to teething. While taking a bottle, the infant may constantly break suction to release pressure from the gum. This will go away with time as it’s a temporary phase.

So how to stop the baby from clicking when bottle feeding?

Now we know three reasons that are causing it so we can correct them by taking the following measures.

Make proper feeding position

Feed the bottle to your young one in the proper or ideal position as mentioned earlier. Do not make the baby lie flat or straight up. It should be at a 45-degree angle and hold the bottle horizontally.

Change the nipple size of your baby’s bottle

Change the size of the nipple and use which fits better with your baby’s mouth so that he/ she can have a proper latch.

Keep track of feeding time

By keeping track of your baby’s feed time you will provide a bottle when he/ she is hungry.

Get medical advice or interventions when necessary

Babies with tongue tie, cleft palate or lip, and infections of the mouth, nose, and ear all need medical attention and advice. So do consult your pediatrician.

Conclusion

From the above discussion, we can conclude that

  • Clicking sounds are produced due to loss of suction and improper latching of baby when bottle feeding.
  • There are many reasons, some need to be taken seriously to avoid any dangerous consequences. While others can be improved by taking proper measures at home.
  • If clicking sounds are bothersome then consult your health professional or health visitor in time.
  • Take care of your young one and always stay vigilant.

Faqs:

Why does my baby make noises while feeding?

Your baby may not be sucking correctly if she makes clicking sounds or dimples her cheeks when breastfeeding. Even if you’re certain she’s in the proper position, double-check, particularly if your nipples are hurting. Nipple pain is often caused by poor placement and latch-on.

Can babies drink breast milk too fast?

A quick or powerful flow is not always an issue for a baby. Many newborns like the faster pace and milk spurting from the breast are entirely natural. Some newborns, however, may seem to be overwhelmed and irritable as a result of a rapid let-down; they may cough, choke, or lose go of the breast and scream.

How quickly do breasts refill?

As previously stated, the breast is never fully empty, although feeding reduces milk flow to the point where no considerable quantity is secreted. It normally takes 20-30 minutes to restore acceptable flow and closer to an hour to restore peak flow.

How do doctors check for tongue-tie?

Tongue-tie is usually discovered during a physical examination. In the case of babies, the doctor may utilize a screening instrument to assess several characteristics of the tongue’s appearance and movement.

Do tongue-tied babies have trouble breastfeeding?

Some newborns with tongue ties nurse effectively right away, while others do so until posture and connection are addressed. However, any tongue knot that inhibits normal tongue mobility might cause nursing issues.

Do babies with tongue-tie sleep more?

Because of the sub-optimal resting posture of a tethered tongue, a kid who has one may tend to mouth-breathe and/or rely excessively on a dummy to sleep. Both of these may cause nocturnal waking and restrict deep, restful sleep in a variety of ways, presenting as “simply” a sleep disorder.

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tongue-tie/symptoms-causes/syc-20378452

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cleft-palate/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370990

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Why does the baby smack 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 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.

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.

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 pain in the baby's abdomen, hiccups, colic and spitting up, and little weight gain. 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 latching and hot flashes

The main reason for a baby to smack his lips while breastfeeding is improper latching. 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 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 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 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.

The child chokes when feeding: what to do?

Nikulina Anastasia Anatolyevna

pediatrician

A newborn chokes when feeding for various reasons. Some of them the mother can eliminate, while others depend on the health of the baby. The pediatrician Anastasia Anatolyevna Nikulina will explain the causes and solutions to this problem.

— Anastasia Anatolyevna, at what age do children most often choke while feeding?

- In the first weeks of life, when the swallowing reflex is still very weak, it is difficult to dose milk supply from the breast. From the bottle, the flow of formula is controlled by the opening in the nipple and the tilt. If the hole in the nipple is not age appropriate, it is tight, then the newborn swallows air. Excess air with the mixture will enter the intestines, causing discomfort to the baby.


Why does the baby choke while breastfeeding or bottle feeding

  • Baby position or bottle angle not optimal. in the optimal position. In the right position, the hand of the woman who holds the child lies on the support. Hold the baby by the back and shoulders, directing the head to the chest. You can’t press hard on the head - the baby will recline it back reflexively.
  • Anatomical features of the mother's breast, in which a woman produces enough breast milk, but it is difficult for a child to suck it out, to eat. Before feeding, the mother needs to express some of the milk or massage the breast: it will become soft, and it will be easier for the baby to suck.
  • Large nipples are difficult for a baby to grasp - to solve the problem, there are special nipple covers through which newborns are fed. You can feed your baby with expressed milk through a bottle and a nipple that is correctly selected for age.
  • Hyperlactation. Pressurized breast milk squirts into the baby's mouth. Before feeding, some of the foremilk is expressed, and the following, more fatty, does not form a strong flow. Breaks in the sucking process also help.
  • Frequent breastfeeding. The absence of long breaks between attachments to the breast prevents children from hunger and, with it, the rush to feed.
  • Incorrect bottle delivery method. The neck of the bottle must be completely filled with milk: this way there will be no air in the milk. The nipple is selected taking into account the age of the baby.
  • Disease. Nasal obstruction or cough interferes with feeding. Relief of the symptoms of the disease will improve nutrition. For some children, problems can be caused by improper swallowing or reflux.
  • To understand why the baby is having difficulty swallowing, you need to gradually eliminate each of the possible causes. Even the environment matters. During feeding hours, it is desirable for a woman to be alone with the child, nothing should distract him from the process. If the mother finds it difficult to identify the cause, a pediatrician will help her.

— What should I do if my child chokes on milk or formula?

- Spontaneous cough is the main symptom that appears when the act of sucking and swallowing is disturbed. The baby is crying and refuses to eat.


First aid for choking children

If you can’t cough up excess milk on your own or the baby chokes on saliva and starts to choke, you need to do the following, dosing the force of your actions: above the navel (on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe baby’s stomach), supporting the chin.

  • Tilt the child slightly forward, lightly pat on the back. This will increase the cough and help restore breathing.

    • - Can I continue feeding after the baby clears his throat, or should I take a break?

    - Feeding can be continued after the baby clears his throat. It is advisable to vilify it with a column for two to three minutes, so that excess air comes out, and then resume feeding.

    - Does increasing the interval between feedings help with the problem?

    - On the contrary, the prevention of flooding will be frequent feeding. With numerous attachments, less milk accumulates in the woman’s breast, it becomes easier for the mother to feed.

    If the baby is choking, feeding should be interrupted. The baby will cough, rest and continue to suck. If the situation recurs frequently, be sure to consult your pediatrician. Your doctor can help you find the best breastfeeding or formula-feeding method for you.

    * Breast milk is the best food for babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life and continued breastfeeding after complementary foods are introduced until the age of 2 years. Before introducing new products into the baby's diet, you should consult with a specialist. The material is for informational purposes and cannot replace the advice of a healthcare professional. For feeding children from birth.

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