How to teach your baby to suck milk by sucking the areola

Many new mothers think that as long as they have milk after the baby is born, the child will be born to breastfeed and there is no need to worry. However, many parents find that the child can never find the nipple when feeding the baby for the first time, and they are very anxious, and even unable to completely hold the nipple in their mouth. The key to teaching the baby to correctly hold the areola in the mouth to breastfeed lies in the timing and method. As long as you are patient and repeat it a few times, your baby will learn it successfully.

Finger feeding can be used in the following situations :

1. If your baby refuses to suckle, or your baby always falls asleep during feeding and cannot feed properly, this is also a good way to wake your baby up.

2. The baby cannot latch on properly and therefore cannot absorb the milk well.

3. The mother needs to leave the baby temporarily. But in this case, cup feeding may be the best approach.

4. The mother needs to stop breastfeeding temporarily.

The nipples are so sore that the baby cannot breastfeed. Finger feeding can help your nipples recover and avoid the need for a pacifier.

Benefits of Finger Feeding

Finger feeding is more like breastfeeding than using a bottle. When finger feeding, your baby's tongue should be pointed down, his mouth should be opened wide, and his jaw should be pointed forward. In addition, the movements of the tongue and jaw are very similar to that of a baby sucking milk. Finger feeding is best used before you are ready to express breast milk directly to your baby. If your baby refuses to take the breast, you can finger feed for a minute or two before trying to give him the breast. However, if the mother is unable to feed the baby herself or finger feeding is too slow, cup feeding is easier and faster, but is more suitable for use at the end of feeding.

Finger feeding method

1. Wash your hands. It is best to keep the fingernails used for feeding short.

2. Find a position that is comfortable for both you and your baby. You can support your baby by placing one hand behind his shoulders and neck with him in a semi-sitting position on your lap. Really any position that's comfortable for both you and your baby and allows your fingers to rest flat in his mouth is fine.

3. You may need a lactation aid, including a feeding tube and bottle. One end of the feeding tube can be inserted into the milk in the bottle through the enlarged nipple.