Infant Feeding Challenges: When to Seek Help.
Many moms (including myself) will tell you that feeding their baby didn’t come as easily as they had expected. For many the journey of feeding their baby at the breast or bottle is full of ups and downs. It’s important to recognize when common challenges require a little extra support.
Some Common Feeding Challenges:
There are a number of feeding challenges that may arise, however some common concerns to look out for are: painful latching, which can cause significant discomfort and may indicate issues such as improper latch or positioning. Clicking sounds during feeding may suggest problems with tongue mobility. Gulping or choking during feeds often signals poor coordination in swallowing. Gassiness or frequent spit-up can result from air intake during feeding or digestive sensitivities. Lastly, suspected oral ties, such as tongue-tie or lip-tie, can further complicate feeding by restricting tongue movement and preventing an effective latch. These challenges require prompt assessment and intervention to support both the parent and baby.
Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding
Breastfeeding and bottle feeding each come with their unique challenges, and many families find themselves navigating both methods. Here’s how to address common concerns:
Transitioning Between Breast and Bottle
Switching between the breast and a bottle can sometimes cause flow preferences for your baby, we also want to choose pacifiers and bottles that closely mimic the skills use for breastfeeding.
To ease the transition:
Use a bottle nipple that has a flow similar to your breast.
Practice paced bottle feeding, allowing baby to suck on an empty nipple initially, mimicking the stimulation of a letdown at the breast.
Use an elevated side-lying position which is a similar position to feeding at the breast.
Bottle Feeding Challenges
For exclusively bottle-fed babies, challenges like gassiness or inefficient sucking can happen. Supportive techniques include:
Use a bottle nipple size and flow rate that match oral motor abilities.
Ensuring the bottle nipple shape matches your baby’s oral motor skills and abilities.
Encouraging pauses (paced) during feeding to mimic the natural rhythm that would occur at the breast.
Signs It’s Time to Seek Help
It can be so difficult to know what to expect and what’s “normal”, especially if you are a new mom. Here are some examples of when you should seek help from an IBCLC. If you’re in pain—any pain at all—don’t ignore it. Pain during breastfeeding is not normal and requires attention. Additionally, if your baby isn’t gaining weight, seems uncomfortable, or is showing signs of pain, this is a clear signal to seek support. Feeding sessions that take excessively long or leave your baby still hungry can indicate an issue; efficient feeds typically last 20-30 minutes. If your baby does not tolerate tummy time activities, it may be linked to underlying feeding or postural concerns. Finally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, reaching out for professional help can provide the guidance and reassurance you need. So, what if you brought up your concerns to your health care provider and you were ignored?? Unfortunately, it happens all to often. Listen to your mama gut and reach out to a lactation professional, you do not need a doctor’s referral.
So how can an OT/IBCLC help?
When lactation and occupational therapy come together, the result is a comprehensive, whole-body approach to addressing feeding challenges. This is an integrative model that recognizes feeding isn’t just about the mouth-it involves the entire body, nervous system, and the parent-baby relationship. What to expect:
Evaluation of your baby’s latch and feeding behavior.
Tips for increasing or managing milk supply.
Support in achieving your breastfeeding goals—whether exclusively breastfeeding, combination feeding, or transitioning to bottles.
Identifying and addressing muscle imbalances or exaggerated reflexes affecting feeding.
Helping your baby develop the strength and coordination needed for effective latching and sucking.
Creating a plan that integrates tummy time and feeding strategies to promote overall development.
What to expect: oral motor exercises to improve tongue function and mobility, strategies to optimize feeding posture and balance tension, tummy time routines integrated with feeding sessions to build strength and coordination. Emotional support and practical advice to meet your feeding goals.
Feeding your baby is a skill—for both you and your baby—and it’s okay to need support along the way. Seeking help early can make a world of difference in your feeding journey. Whether breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or a combination of both, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Reach out to me at Nourishing Developement if you have any questions or concerns about your little one. Want to know if you visits are covered by insurance? Check you coverage here at the Lactation Network.
