Breastfeeding makes baby strong

And this is not only due to the nutritious qualities of breast milk which make your baby feel full and content. It is also because babies are working and learning at the same time with these first and most difficult activities – sucking and swallowing.

The female breast and the infant mouth are absolutely made to match. When baby’s mouth touches the mother’s nipple, it triggers the search reflex and causes baby’s mouth to open wide. At this moment the mother should direct and support the baby’s head in such a way that the tiny mouth surrounds not only the nipple but also a large part of the areola around it. This is how the infant learns the correct way to close the lips. He or she will now push the lower jaw forwards and backwards, accompanied by wave-type motions of the tongue. This eases the milk out from the breast.

The breastfeeding process is not, however, just about giving baby nourishment; it also fulfils other essential functions. The tongue and the muscles that will be used later for chewing are also picking up these finely-tuned, powerful movements which help promote the growth of the jaw and face bones. Also, with every breastfeeding action, baby has to physically "work", as he trains the face and neck muscles right down to the shoulders. Breastfeeding is therefore real "bodybuilding" for your little one and is already laying the foundations for good body posture in later years.

Tip

Please do not feed your little one with cereal at night. This will enable your child to maintain a natural rhythm of eating during the day and sleeping at night. To achieve maximum benefit from nourishment, the amount that your child consumes during the day should suffice. You will also be helping to prevent the onset of caries.

Bottle-feeding as an alternative

If you do not wish to breastfeed or if you wish to wean your child from breastfeeding or to bottle-feed your baby with breast milk, it is important that the bottle-feeding process is as similar to breastfeeding. To achieve this, the opening of the teat must be as small as possible. The correct teat hole is available for every type of feed and the hole should always correspond to the feed. Be sure to observe the instructions on the teat packaging.

When bottle-feeding, baby has to learn to work as hard while strengthening the muscles at the same time. If you are concerned that your child is trying too hard when feeding from the bottle, you can be rest assured that this is desirable from a medical point of view as it promotes the healthy development of your child. For these reasons, a bottle feed should also last for approximately 20 minutes – the objective is not to make baby feel full as soon as possible, but rather to simulate the breastfeeding process in the best possible way so that all muscles are being trained. This process promotes the interplay of jaw, face and throat muscles, thus ensuring the mouth is well prepared for later skills such as chewing and speaking.

Once you eventually move onto cereal feeds, these can be given from a spoon, as this promotes lip activity and also the development of sound formation. As soon as your child has cut the first teeth, you can offer him or her small pieces of the food you eat. This will build up your child’s immune system and help prevent caries, tooth malformations and jaw anomalies.

The correct teat

When bottle-feeding, it is important to use the correct teat. The teat should be designed such that it resembles as closely as possible the mother’s nipple while breastfeeding, both in shape and function – in other words, it should be asymmetric. It will never reach its adaptability, but you can ensure that it keeps up with the growth of your baby.

It is best to use the size of teat recommended for the relevant age group. What applies to teats, where the shape is concerned, generally also applies to soothers. A soother should fit the child’s jaw ergonomically and should also leave the tongue sufficient space. Another important aspect is that the soother should be soft and flexible. In order to produce as less resistance as possible between the edges of the jaw and the teeth once they appear, the neck of the soother should also be as narrow as possible. You should always ensure that it is not overused. With your child sucking on the soother and, at the same time, training his muscles, it can be considered beneficial.

Babies have an innate sucking desire which needs to be satisfied. This is achieved during breastfeeding in the most natural way. However, infants also demonstrate a need to suck between feeds.

Nonetheless, do remember that a soother is first and foremost meant for sucking on. If it simply hangs out of the mouth, it is better to remove it. This is especially the case at night – an infant rarely needs a soother while asleep. According to a comprehensive study done in the USA, findings indicate that the danger of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Cot Death) is reduced if a soother is used at night during the first twelve months. Once the child is two years old, you should gradually try and wean your little one off it.

A healthy and happy baby requires constant care and love from the mother. Develop a stronger bond with your child when you equip yourself with useful information on feeding and raising a healthy baby.