Babies feed to a rhythm, and the development of this coordination is called suck, swallow, breathe. As feeding is pretty much a fulltime job for you and your little cherub, here is some handy information on the subject. A baby should be drinking their milk at a 1:1:1 ratio. What does this mean? For every 1 suck, there should be 1 swallow, and 1 breath – in that order! This drinking pattern gets repeated several times (depending on your little one’s age and capabilities) and then they will take a timeout. This period of rest and recovery, what the lactation experts call a ‘burst pause’, should be similar in time to when they are actively feeding. Why? This signals a well-paced, efficient feed. And since food and air have to share the same tube, it can be reassuring to know your baby is feeding as they should. Measuring your baby’s suck, swallow, breathe. Your baby’s suck, swallow, breathe drinking pattern will change with age. As they get older, they will feed for much longer before needing a break. You can figure out where your baby’s at by listening, counting and watching. A baby born at full term, without complications, should be managing 10 or more suck, swallow, breathe patterns before needing a rest (burst pause). If your little one’s suck, swallow, breathe coordination is off, or they are taking very long or very short breaks between periods of active feeding, it could point to a couple of things. Is your baby taking long breaks? Are they taking a really long time to finish a bottle, or even losing interest before it is empty? It might be time to look at increasing the flow rate. Your little one may be having to work too hard for the reward of a full tummy, and the next size nipple could be the answer. Is your baby taking short breaks? If so, it signals that your little one is finding it hard to keep pace. If milk is flooding into their mouth they have to swallow to prevent choking. This can be a bit distressing for you baby, and it’s a good idea to reduce the flow rate of your bottle nipple. Here are a few signs that your flow rate is too high. Beyond the technique, feeding time is a parent and child ritual, so keep up the good work, you’re doing a great job!
Feeding is natural and most little creatures will grasp the concept without you even knowing about it. However, some babies (especially preemies) sometimes need to wear their ‘L’ plates for a little longer.
On the other hand, if your baby drinks plenty but takes very long breaks, they probably need to recover from the exertion. A feed isn’t supposed to be hard work, so you might want to decrease your flow rate and let your little one catch their breath.
Why? This will give your baby more control over the feed, and help them to practice their suck, swallow, breathe, coordination.
Remember, if you are concerned about any of the above, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare professional for advice.