If we take a look at the mechanics of feeding, experts say that it’s really great if you can get a bottle feed to mimic a breastfeed. Why? Breast fed babies naturally develop their tongue, jaw and facial muscles (and coordination) through suckling. The good news is; the right latch can help your bottle-fed baby to do exactly the same. 5 steps to a good bottle latch. 1. Coax your baby’s lips open by brushing the bottle nipple from their bottom lip upwards towards their nose. 2. Don’t rush, especially if you’re combination feeding. Breastfeeding is a supply and demand exchange, so give your little one a couple of seconds to acknowledge what’s about to happen. 3. When their mouth is fully open, place the bottle on their chin and allow them to accept the nipple of the bottle quite deeply. Angle it towards the roof of their mouth. 4. The bottom lip should now turn out and latch on to form a seal on the base of the nipple. If milk is escaping from the corners of their mouth, the vacuum has been broken. Gently remove the bottle and start again. 5. The nipple should always be fully filled with milk to prevent your little one from swallowing unwanted air. TIP! If you can’t picture in your head what a good latch looks like, have a look at the image at the top of this article. Sometimes a picture can tell a thousand words. Feeding position. Hold your baby at a 45-degree angle, keeping their head above their tummy and elongating the airway. Your little one should be drawing milk with the sucking motion, not by simply having a vertical bottle in their mouth. Let your baby lead the way. Flow rate check. Even though bottle nipples come with age recommendations, you should still monitor your little one during a feed. Slow flow nipples will usually be advised for younger babies, quick flow as they get older. Do you know what your baby is trying to tell you during a feed? Is milk running out of the corners of their mouth? Are your baby’s fingers or toes splayed? Are they turning their head away, or pushing the bottle out of their mouth? If they are, then these are stress cues and you’ll need to adjust something. You’ll be a feeding expert in no time at all. Recognizing a good latch is a golden moment and a victory!
Good feeding habits are easy to make, and once you know what a good feed looks like, your baby will drink much more efficiently.
However, if your baby finds it hard to keep up, you might want to continue with a slow flow for longer. The recommendations on packaging are guidelines only; you have to figure out what works for your little one.
Leaking points to an incorrect latch (see above), while tension in their body suggests that the flow rate may be too high, or feeding position too horizontal. Too much milk can distress your baby as they try not to choke. Feeding should be a relaxing and satisfying experience, and it can be, with a little observation.