What to do if the child does not suck breast milk

A baby must be breastfed right after birth. If breastfeeding is not adopted, the baby also needs to be fed with formula. Every baby's situation after birth is different, and some children can adapt to breast milk, and breast milk is also very healthy. But some children have experienced some strange phenomena that we don’t often see. What should I do if my child refuses to suck breast milk?

Simple is best

Sometimes it's my mother's illusion

1. Some babies turn their heads from one side to the other when looking for the nipple. This is called "home-seeking" behavior. Some mothers think that the child is expressing "no".

2. Some babies have more difficulty learning to suck than others, and the mother may think that the baby does not want to drink her milk.

3. Some babies around 5 months old can easily be distracted from the breast due to noise and other reasons. After one year old, some babies will automatically wean themselves off breast milk.

The baby may be sick

If your baby has symptoms of other illnesses, such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, jaundice, or seizures, he may be seriously ill and not receiving breast milk. In this case, it is best for the nursing mother to take the baby to the hospital for examination. The following symptoms generally affect the baby's breastfeeding

The baby weighs less than 1800 grams

Babies weighing less than 1800 grams may not be able to suckle breast milk. The solution is to help the mother express breast milk and feed the baby with the expressed milk with a cup until the baby is able to suck on his own.

The baby has a cold and his nose is blocked

A blocked nose can prevent a baby from sucking breast milk. The solution is for the mother to clear the baby's nasal passages before each feeding. Use clean cloth or absorbent paper to make a pointed twister, then gently insert the tip into the baby's nasal cavity to roll out the secretions. Clean one side first, then the other. If the secretion is dry, you can soak the twist in water and then roll it.

Is there too much breast milk?

When a mother starts breastfeeding her baby, the milk rushing into the baby's mouth may cause the baby to choke, and the baby will be afraid of breastfeeding. Sometimes milk will flow out of the other breast and make the mother feel breast swelling. This is a sign of excessive milk secretion and active ejection reflex. The solution is:

1. If the mother squeezes out some milk before each breastfeeding, her breasts will not be too swollen and the milk will not flow too quickly.

2. Feed only one breast at a time, and feed the other breast next time. This way the breast is less stimulated, milk production will also be reduced, and the flow will be suitable for the baby's needs.

3. If the mother breastfeeds while lying down, the milk will flow slower than when she is sitting.

Baby bottle

If your baby is used to bottle feeding, he may refuse to suck at the breast, so check first:

1. Was the baby bottle-fed before starting breastfeeding?

2. Did the mother ever bottle-feed the baby at home?

At this point, the nurse can only feed the baby with a little patience until the baby gets used to breastfeeding.

Baby separated from mother

If a baby is separated from his mother for a period of time after birth or later, he may refuse to breastfeed.

Does the mother spend more time apart from her baby every day after work?

Did the mother leave the baby due to illness or other reasons?

If breastfeeding is refused due to this situation, the mother can only improve herself, spend more time with the baby and insist on breastfeeding until the baby gets used to breastfeeding again.

Does the mother restrict breastfeeding?

1. Mother's restrictions on breastfeeding can lead to feeding failure.

2. Does the mother feed only a fixed number of times a day and refuse additional requests from the baby?

3. Does the mother stop breastfeeding after a certain amount of time each time?

4. Does the mother make the baby wait to breastfeed?

The solution is for mothers to improve their feeding methods so that babies gradually like breastfeeding.

Did the mother do something to upset the baby?

If the family routine is disrupted, such as visiting friends or moving, the mother may not have time to breastfeed her baby.

Babies may refuse breastfeeding in certain circumstances, such as if the mother has a bad body odor after eating garlic or using a new soap or perfume.

Babies may also refuse breastfeeding if the mother is sick, menstruating, or has mastitis.