Everyday moms come into Eats + Speaks describing a variety of red flags in their baby, and many of them don’t even realize it. All too often, moms visit other healthcare practitioners who are not skilled in babies' mouths and feeding development. They are given incorrect information, and many are dismissed. This leaves them feeling discouraged, overwhelmed and frustrated when it comes to their baby’s oral development and feeding experience.
Here are 3 RED FLAGS you should watch out for.
Biting Your Nipple & Painful Feeds
Many moms are led to believe that painful feeds are a normal part of your breastfeeding journey. While discomfort can occur, if you’re experiencing pain, you need to seek professional help from a lactation counselor or consultant. Oftentimes a narrow latch or positioning causes pain, but these can occur due to a variety of reasons.
Difficulty Maintaining A Latch
If your child is constantly unlatching while breastfeeding, this could signal that they find it challenging to stay on the breast. When a baby is unable to latch properly, it impacts their feeds and the amount of nutrition they receive, and it’s stressful and exhausting for Mom too! In turn, this affects their overall wellness and development. Often, we see this in babies who are having difficulty gaining weight or moms who experience clogged ducts or mastitis.
Open Mouth Breathing
A child should never breathe through their mouth. Unfortunately, this is something that most parents aren't aware of. Your baby should breathe quietly and through their nose. If you notice they’re breathing through their mouth or it’s loud, it’s time to seek professional support.
Are you looking for more information about these red flags? Purchase our parent-friendly course, Out Of The Mouth Of Babes, to learn about these red flags and so much more. The therapists teaching it will guide you and provide support. In the end, you will be able to advocate and seek support for your child if necessary. This course was designed by speech-language pathologists, lactation counselors, and certified orofacial myologists who also struggled with feeding their little ones.
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