Is it possible to teach an infant to latch on past seven weeks of age?
 

Hi,

A friend's infant is now seven weeks old and has never learnt to latch
on. His mother continues to pump for him and bottle feed him

Is it possible for him to learn to latch on this late, and if so, how?

Thanks!

Is it possible to teach an infant to latch on past seven weeks of age?
 

On Oct 6, 8:27 pm, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward
wrote:
Hi,

A friend's infant is now seven weeks old and has never learnt to latch
on. His mother continues to pump for him and bottle feed him

Is it possible for him to learn to latch on this late, and if so, how?

Thanks!

It is likely possible. His mouth will be much bigger by now and it
may be physically easier for him to latch on than it was when he was
smaller.

Here is a list, though not complete, of some things that may make it
easier to get him nursing. There are way too many here to try all at
once:

Get him used to lots of skin to skin contact without pressure to
nurse. Sometimes plenty of skin to skin contact with nipples
available ends up with a baby latching on on his own at some point.

Get him used to spending time in a sling, if he is happy in it.

Try nursing when he is neither full, nor starving.

Put some milk on the nipple.

Pump until letdown, so the milk is coming when he tries.

If nipples are flat or inverted, pump a bit to draw them out first.

Some babies make the transition by using a nipple shield.

--Betsy

Is it possible to teach an infant to latch on past seven weeksof age?
 

betsy wrote:
On Oct 6, 8:27 pm, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward
wrote:
Hi,

A friend's infant is now seven weeks old and has never learnt to latch
on. His mother continues to pump for him and bottle feed him

Is it possible for him to learn to latch on this late, and if so, how?

Thanks!

It is likely possible. His mouth will be much bigger by now and it
may be physically easier for him to latch on than it was when he was
smaller.

Here is a list, though not complete, of some things that may make it
easier to get him nursing. There are way too many here to try all at
once:

Get him used to lots of skin to skin contact without pressure to
nurse. Sometimes plenty of skin to skin contact with nipples
available ends up with a baby latching on on his own at some point.

Get him used to spending time in a sling, if he is happy in it.

Try nursing when he is neither full, nor starving.

Put some milk on the nipple.

Pump until letdown, so the milk is coming when he tries.

If nipples are flat or inverted, pump a bit to draw them out first.

Some babies make the transition by using a nipple shield.

And a couple of others:

A supplemental nursing system (SNS) is a gadget that allows milk to be
delivered via a tube taped to a nipple, making it easier for the baby to
get milk when he sucks. This can transition some babies to learning to
suck on the nipple.

Having a bath with the baby can persuade some babies to latch.
Something about being in the water regressing them to newborn stage...

Has your friend spoken to a La Leche League leader or IBCLC
(international board-certified lactation consultant)? I think she's
going to need expert help & support with this.


All the best,

Sarah
--
http://www.goodenoughmummy.typepad.com

"That which can be destroyed by the truth, should be" - P. C. Hodgell

Is it possible to teach an infant to latch on past seven weeks of age?
 

On Oct 7, 2:07 pm, Sarah Vaughan wrote:
betsy wrote:
On Oct 6, 8:27 pm, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward
wrote:
Hi,

A friend's infant is now seven weeks old and has never learnt to latch
on. His mother continues to pump for him and bottle feed him

Is it possible for him to learn to latch on this late, and if so, how?

Thanks!

It is likely possible. His mouth will be much bigger by now and it
may be physically easier for him to latch on than it was when he was
smaller.

Here is a list, though not complete, of some things that may make it
easier to get him nursing. There are way too many here to try all at
once:

Get him used to lots of skin to skin contact without pressure to
nurse. Sometimes plenty of skin to skin contact with nipples
available ends up with a baby latching on on his own at some point.

Get him used to spending time in a sling, if he is happy in it.

Try nursing when he is neither full, nor starving.

Put some milk on the nipple.

Pump until letdown, so the milk is coming when he tries.

If nipples are flat or inverted, pump a bit to draw them out first.

Some babies make the transition by using a nipple shield.

And a couple of others:

A supplemental nursing system (SNS) is a gadget that allows milk to be
delivered via a tube taped to a nipple, making it easier for the baby to
get milk when he sucks. This can transition some babies to learning to
suck on the nipple.

Having a bath with the baby can persuade some babies to latch.
Something about being in the water regressing them to newborn stage...

Has your friend spoken to a La Leche League leader or IBCLC
(international board-certified lactation consultant)? I think she's
going to need expert help & support with this.

All the best,

Sarah
--http://www.goodenoughmummy.typepad.com

"That which can be destroyed by the truth, should be" - P. C. Hodgell- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thank you both very much indeed for these encouraging and helpful
replies! I have passed them on to my friend.