What to do if your child refuses to breastfeed

Mothers who have just given birth have no experience in feeding. Although they want to breastfeed their babies, they find that their babies are not interested in breast milk, which makes them very anxious and sad. What should I do if my child refuses to suck breast milk? At this time, the mother must find out the reason. If it is because the child is using a bottle, then simply extract the breast milk and put it in the bottle to feed the child. No matter what the reason is, the child's nutrition absorption and growth must not be delayed.

The baby is very likely to have "nipple confusion", which is a problem that breastfeeding mothers often encounter. Let's learn about it today.

What is nipple confusion?

It refers to the phenomenon that the baby uses a bottle too early before he has mastered the skill of drinking breast milk, which makes the baby unable to or unwilling to suck the mother's nipple.

For babies, drinking milk from a bottle can be enough with just a gentle suck, without any effort, but drinking milk from the mother requires great effort. You can imagine how "painful" it is to get your baby to refuse the bottle and accept breast milk.

Can nipple confusion be corrected?

Of course, but mothers must have enough determination and patience. This cannot be done overnight. Be prepared for a protracted battle. Some babies may correct themselves in a week, while others may need a month or even longer.

How to correct nipple confusion?

1. Stop using bottles and start feeding with a spoon or cup, then breastfeed

Initially, try giving your baby a spoon or cup instead of a bottle or breast for a day, then try breastfeeding the next day.

When you first try breastfeeding, mothers should pay attention. You can massage your breasts before breastfeeding, so that the nipples and surrounding areola will become soft, making it easier for the baby to suckle. At the same time, you can squeeze out a little milk so that the milk will come out faster, making it easier for the baby to suck the milk, and he will be more willing to suck the breast.

For mothers with low breast milk supply who cannot stop feeding with formula milk all at once, they can try a breastfeeding aid - the breastfeeding system (as shown below).

The mother hangs the baby's "ration" on her chest, and the baby can drink the milk in the bottle through the extension tube at the bottle mouth. Using this tool can not only keep your baby full, but also stimulate the breasts, help increase milk supply, and ultimately make your baby gradually familiar with the breasts. Once the mother's milk supply gradually increases and can meet the baby's needs, she will no longer need to use this tool.

2. Choose the right time and try to correct it when your baby is in a good mood or about to fall asleep.

A good time is when your baby has just woken up, is about to fall asleep, or is not too hungry. Do not try to correct your baby when he is particularly hungry or irritable.

3. The correct breastfeeding posture allows the baby to eat breast milk better

When holding your baby with his whole body facing you, gently touch his lips with the tip of your nipple until his mouth opens wide, as if he is yawning. Then hold him closer to you and place the nipple and most of the areola into his mouth. Check his latch and if he is not latching properly, let him off the breast and get him latching again. If you want to know more about how your baby latches on to the breast, you can read this article: Mastering these techniques will make breastfeeding easier for new mothers

4. Interact with your baby more and increase skin contact

Skin-to-skin contact can help mother and baby reconnect. During this process, the baby is gently held in the mother's arms, making her feel more secure. The mother's mood will also be more stable and her milk production will increase.

5. Don’t force your baby to drink milk

During the correction process, if the baby becomes irritable and angry, stop, comfort him, and try again. Don't let your baby associate breastfeeding with unpleasant emotions. If you force it in, the baby will resist even more.

6. Be more patient with your baby

Sometimes, mothers want to breastfeed their babies, but nipple confusion cannot be corrected all at once and may cause the baby to cry incessantly or reduce the amount of milk. This is a test for mothers and also the biggest obstacle in the correction process. However, as long as the mother believes that all this will pass, the baby will eventually accept your breast and like your milk. Gentle persistence is important.

7. Gain understanding and support from family members

In this process, the support of family members is also indispensable. Because the baby keeps crying, the mother will also be upset and need a temporary rest and adjustment. At this time, the family needs help. When the mother encounters problems, they should be able to give her confidence instead of saying, "Feeding with formula is also good, don't bother with it anymore." This is the greatest support for mothers on their breastfeeding journey.

In addition, breastfeeding during the first month after your baby is born is the best way to avoid nipple confusion.