Tips To Keep Your Baby From Falling Asleep While Feeding
27 Dec
Bottle Feeding

8 Tips To Keep Your Baby From Falling Asleep While Feeding

During the first few weeks of a baby’s life, they do almost nothing but sleep. It is important to enjoy this time. Later, it will seem like they have copious amounts of energy and do not like to fall asleep at all. This is why people keep warning new mothers about getting enough sleep when the baby is sleeping. Sleep will be hard to come by later.

Babies seem to be very sleepy all day and almost seem to struggle to stay awake. Babies are adjusting to life outside the womb, and this is tiring. Also, sleeping during the day can keep them awake at night, and mothers have to find a way to cope. Babies will have their days and nights mixed up.

Falling asleep can also happen during feedings. When a baby is nursing, it is common to see the baby fall asleep at the breast. It is common for babies to fall asleep when their tummy is full. Falling asleep is a natural response to exhaustion. When a baby falls asleep at the breast, the mother can stop feeding to avoid adverse effects. If the baby puts on weight at a healthy pace, there is no harm in falling asleep during nursing sessions.

When the baby moves from breast to bottle feeding, there are some risks of falling asleep. Understanding these better will help you mitigate them. 

Here are a few risks that your baby faces when it falls asleep during feeding.

Choking Risks – When babies fall asleep, it is possible that liquid can go into their lungs. This can lead to choking. This is like what happens when food goes down the windpipe when you are eating. This is quite dangerous for the baby. The baby is still developing reflexes. It is not good at waking up if something interferes with breathing.

Tooth Decay – This is not so much risk during breastfeeding. When babies fall asleep during breastfeeding, the mother can stop feeding. If the baby falls asleep with the bottle in the mouth, the liquid or formula can drip into the mouth. This causes the teeth to soak and puts the baby at risk of tooth decay. For this reason, remove the bottle as soon as the baby starts giving signs that it is full. Do not let the baby suckle on the bottle for longer than necessary.

Ear Infections – If the baby is lying flat while feeding, the milk or formula can flow into the ear canal. This increases the risk of ear infections. For this reason, the baby must never be given the bottle when lying down. When breastfeeding, hold the baby to raise its head than the rest of its body. You can use your arm to create the tilt. Use a feeding pillow to prop the baby up, or use a baby chair to ensure that the baby is sitting up when feeding.

Dependency – Babies that fall asleep while feeding might link feeding and sleeping. Many new mothers know how babies get cranky before falling asleep, feeding, and sleeping peacefully. But as time goes, this becomes another risk. This habit can be hard to break once it forms. To avoid this, we recommend a different place for feeding to the one the baby uses to sleep. This is after the baby reaches the age of 3 months or more. Keeping the two separate can prevent this habit from forming.

You can introduce babies older than six months to a sippy cup. You should aim to take the baby off the bottle by the time they are a year old. You should not worry too much if the baby does not finish a bottle, as they know when their tummies are full. Here are some tips to keep your baby from falling asleep when bottle feeding:

1. Change their position

Changing positions when the baby is feeding makes sure that they stay awake. When they move about, they tend to stay awake. When nursing, try switch nursing, where you shift the baby from one breast to the other. You can follow the same for bottle feeding by helping the baby switch positions when feeding. This makes sure that they do not get too comfortable in the same position. Putting them in a sitting position will also help them stay awake longer. 

2. Burp your baby

Burping your baby involves picking them up and putting them over your shoulder to pat them down. Burping frees up some space in the tummy and removes the feeling of being full. Also, picking up the baby awakes them from the restful state they are in a while feeding. This can help keep them awake.

3. Remove the bottle

If the baby is sleepy mid-way through the feed, removing the bottle may help them stay awake. Extracting milk from the bottle takes some effort, and the baby will tire from doing this for a while. Removing the bottle gives the baby a break. You can remove the breast from the baby’s mouth during breastfeeding or switch from one to the other. The break from the sensation of feeding will help the baby wake up. It will stay that way for longer, even when you resume feeding.

4. Change their nappy mid-feed

Like picking up the baby or removing the bottle, you can change the baby’s nappy mid-feed. Changing the nappy involves picking up the baby and changing positions all around. This can prevent the baby from feeling sleepy through the rest of the feed. This works better during bottle feeding. The baby may get cranky if it is interrupted mid-feed. While breastfeeding, if you remove the food source so you can change the baby’s diaper, you are bound to have a cranky baby on your hands. \

5. Stroke their feet 

External stimulus can also prevent the baby from falling asleep during the feed. Gentle stimulation of the senses is an excellent way to keep the baby awake. One way to do this is to stroke the baby’s feet when feeding. Stroking the feet invokes a reflex response in babies, which helps them stay awake. Tickling the baby’s feet or swirling a finger on the top of their head can also help with the same response. You can also pat their cheeks gently. All of these gentle actions keep them awake.  

Keeping in tune with the stimulation of the senses, another way to do this is to blow air on the cheeks or the forehead. Doing this will keep them alert. Again, you have to do this also in moderation as it can take away the attention from feeding. Over-alerting babies will distract them from what they are doing.

6. Give them a toy

Using a toy or a favorite blanket to keep them distracted during feedings can also help them stay awake. This is why you will usually find hanging toys above the crib or little dangling ones on the side of a high chair. Movement keeps them occupied and helps them stay awake.

7. Sing or speak to your baby while they feed

Singing or speaking to the baby helps keep a baby engaged during the feed. This also stimulates the senses and helps the baby stay awake. Playing some music or making noises around the baby can also help do the same. Ensure that the music you are playing or the song you are singing is not too soothing. This will help the baby fall asleep, defeating the purpose of the exercise. Do not play thunderous music around your baby. It could lead to problems with attention and hearing. When many people talk while the baby is feeding, it tends to get distracted. So, it would be best if the mother or caretaker speaks or sings softly to the baby. 

8. Strip the baby down to the diaper

If the baby is too warm, it is more likely to fall asleep when feeding. One way to prevent this is to strip the baby down to the diaper when feeding. The mother can also apply cool washcloths to the baby’s skin to keep them from sleeping. If you think that the baby is too cold, you can drape a breathable blanket over them. Or get them to make skin-to-skin contact with you. Skin-to-skin contact with the mother ensures that the baby stays warm enough. It also assures that you are close and stimulates them that way.

If the baby is still falling asleep during bottle feedings, check the nipple of the bottle. If the milk flow is too slow, the baby might struggle to extract the milk and thus get tired. When the milk flow gets slow, it is normal for a baby to feel bored and go to sleep. If everything is right, consult your pediatrician for supplementation suggestions. The pediatrician can give you tips to keep the baby less tired. If the baby falls asleep during the feed, always throw away any leftover food in the bottle. This is especially for anything that remains in the bottle after an hour. This is because any liquid in a bottle for a long time can get contaminated. Do not store milk or formula in the bottle after the baby has stopped feeding.

You can break your baby’s association between feeding and bedtime gradually. It is not a quick process. You can reduce and then stop the baby’s nighttime feedings. Reduce the amount of liquid in the bottle by an ounce. Do this over some time. You can also dilute the milk or juice.

There will be a few nights of fussing when the baby does not feed just before sleeping. The baby will take some time to get used to this. This is also an excellent time to introduce a new toy to help them fall asleep without a feed. If you are willing to be patient and wait for a bit, the baby will soon get used to sleeping without feeding. 

What are the advantages of bottle feeding?
03 Nov
Bottle Feed baby

What are the advantages of bottle feeding?

Bottle feeding is an alternative option for breastfeeding. Some new moms are unable to breastfeed or want to provide formula milk along with breastfeeding. In fact, some moms even feed breast milk through feeding bottles. Going through the advantages of bottle feeding will help you analyze whether it would be the right choice for you and your baby too.

Here’s a list of the advantages of bottle-feeding – 

  1. Bonding opportunity for both the parents
  2. Can be comfortably done in public
  3. Makes keeping track easy
  4. You don’t need to worry about your baby being under-fed
  5. You can eat whatever you like
  6. Suitable for lactose intolerant babies
  7. Mother’s health doesn’t affect the baby
  8. Less frequency
  9. More comfortable
  10. No trial and error
  11. Super cute accessories
  12. You can choose what to feed your newborn
  13. Doesn’t interfere with your private life
  14. It can regulate your body faster
  15. Happy lovemaking

 

  1. Bonding opportunity for both the parents

Breastfeeding largely confines the task of feeding to the mother, leaving the dad bereft of the opportunity to connect with the baby during this crucial process. However, the case is different with bottle feeding as both the parents can feed the baby. The siblings and other family members can also get to spend some precious moments with the beloved new member of the family.

  1. Can be comfortably done in public

Despite the repeated attempts by the feminist groups to get rid of the culture of shaming breastfeeding in public, some new moms are still hesitant with the idea. Everyone has the right to choose, and if you don’t want the hassle of searching for a private spot at a public place or feeling shy every time you need to feed your baby in public, bottle feeding is a good alternative.

  1. Makes keeping track easy

It is not always easy to keep a track of the daily milk intake of the baby during breastfeeding. However, bottle feeding makes it easier to measure it. This will immensely help in keeping a tab on the nutrients the baby is getting daily.

  1. You don’t need to worry about your baby being under-fed

Insufficient breast milk supply is a cause for concern for many new moms. If you are one of them and still want to make sure that your baby gets the nourishment it deserves, you should resort to bottle feeding without any hesitation.

  1. You can eat whatever you like

While breastfeeding, even the mother needs to take care of her dietary intake. This often means eating additional fruits and veggies. If you are not a fan of these and want the freedom to eat and drink whatever you wish; bottle feeding can be a saviour.

Caffeine, alcohol and calories also become more flexible. On average, nursing moms are advised to take in 500 calories per day. This can become a hindrance in weight loss.

  1. Suitable for lactose intolerant babies

If your little one is lactose intolerant, feeding formula milk, such as soy protein, can be wiser than breastfeeding or feeding animal milk.

  1. Mother’s health doesn’t affect the baby

Unfortunately, if the mother falls ill after childbirth or faces health issues that prevent her from breastfeeding, bottle feeding saves the day.

  1. Less frequency

Babies who are breastfed need to be fed every two to three hours keeping moms on call all the time. However, formula milk takes longer to digest. Also, other family members have the liberty of helping you out. Thus, your body can get the rest it deserves.

  1. More comfortable

Breastfeeding often comes with physical issues like engorgement of breasts, cracked and bitten nipples and mastitis. Bottle feeding can be more comfortable for you in this regard.

  1. No trial and error

No one wants a fussy baby, and having one can lead parents to an endless cycle of overthinking regarding what went wrong with the mother’s diet in case of breastfeeding. Was it the onion this time, or the tomato sauce? Save yourself from the blame game and frustration and enjoy your parenthood fuss-free.

Moreover, it also becomes confusing to keep a check on your baby’s emotions. With bottle-feeding, it is easier to determine whether the baby is fussy because it is tired, or it is hunger which is keeping it up at nights.

  1. Super cute accessories

C’mon. let’s admit it once and for all. Baby accessories are adorable, and all of our hearts have skipped a beat while looking at them. Bottle-feeding allows you to shop for more of those! Though this excuse might seem lame to some, ask the shopaholics at the back, please!

  1. You can choose what to feed your newborn

There is no shortage of formula milk options out there, and you can go for the one that suits your baby the most. There are hypo-allergenic options too.

  1. Doesn’t interfere with your private life

Whether it be cosying up with your partner or heading out on a Friday night with your buddies, you can live your best life and still be a doting mom. The dietary freedom, and the overall flexibility and relaxation that bottle-feeding provides lets moms explore their lives too. Happy moms raise happier children!

  1. It can regulate your body faster.

If you are planning on having more children, bottle feeding can be a good option. It will regulate your body quicker, and you will be ready to flaunt that baby bump again!

  1. Happy lovemaking

Breastfeeding can interfere with lovemaking. Lactation comes with a lot of hormonal changes which can leave the vagina dry. Moreover, it can also lead to sore and leaky nipples. Bottle feeding lets you connect with your partner without giving these impediments a thought.

Also, with breastfeeding, you can only go for those birth control measures that are not harmful to the baby. You don’t need to worry about it while bottle feeding and you can choose the method which suits you and your partner the most.

In a nutshell

While the advantages of bottle feeding are numerous, everything comes down to the preferences of the mother. Many moms decide to go for breastfeeding before delivering the baby, but circumstances make them go for bottle-feeding afterwards. While supplementing breastfeeding with bottle feeding may sound optimum for some.

If you are sure that bottle feeding is the way to go, Ninio Baby has one of the best accessories to aid you with it. Besides, we can also resolve any queries that you may have in this regard.

 

30 Sep
Baby Care

15 Benefits of Bottle Feeding

Breastfeeding can be difficult. A mother may face issues from maintaining a strict diet to worrying about producing less milk. Bottle feeding is a good alternative when you wish to avoid such problems. Although many sources are claiming that bottle-feeding is unadvisable, there are many benefits to it. You need to figure out as a mother, what works well for you and your baby. Here are 15 benefits of bottle-feeding:

  • Comfortable for the mother

You are breastfeeding, although a natural process drains the mother a lot. Detested bodily changes and constant discomfort is something that you may have to face during breastfeeding. Pains related to the engorgement, cracked nipples, bite marks, and mastitis can cause immense discomfort, especially to a new mother. You can avoid these aches by simply bottle-feeding your baby.

  • Bonding moment with everyone in the family

Some days your husband or parents may wish to have experience with feeding your baby. Bottle feeding allows all the responsible members of the family to have a bonding experience with the baby. It is not always necessary for the mother to be present for every feeding session.

  • You can freely feed in public.

No matter how advanced the society may look, breastfeeding in public is often looked at with contempt. If not, mothers may find it uncomfortable to breastfeed in public and may not find a private place to feed the baby. Bottle feeding is an easy way for mothers who are not comfortable feeding their babies in the public setting. 

  • You can easily track the milk intake.

New ones, mothers, find it distressing when they cannot track how much they have fed their baby. Bottle feeding not only helps you keep track of how many times a day and how much milk the baby has had.

  • You don’t have to be worried if the breast milk supply is low.

Many moms often worry that their baby will be underfed if they don’t produce enough milk. This problem does not arise when the baby is bottle-fed, hence relieving the stress of the mother. It is common for mothers to shift to formula because they cannot produce enough milk.

  • No need to alter the mother’s diet

A breastfeeding mother has to increase her caloric intake by 500-600 calories per day. Additionally, she needs to keep a check on her diet to ensure the baby gets all the nutrients they require. But if you choose to bottle-feed, you do not have to worry about your diet and any medications (pain killers, contraceptives, etc.) you wish to take. 

  • Your health condition will not affect your baby.

If you fall sick during breastfeeding, there are chances that you may pass on the illness to your baby. Bottle feeding ensures that your baby does not fall ill because of your sickness. Additionally, any medications taken at the time will not affect the baby either.

  • Easy to regulate a routine

Once you start bottle feeding, you will be able to determine when your baby feels hungry. This way, you will set a feeding routine for your baby and be prepared in advance for every feeding session with a baby feeding bottle. 

  • Helps lactose intolerant babies

In rare cases, babies are lactose intolerant and cannot process breast milk or any animal milk. Bottle feeding allows the mother to feed the soy-based milk formula to ensure that they get all the nutrients they need without falling sick.

  • Bottle feeding allows you to have a break.

Being a mother is not an easy task. There are so many things to look after, and sometimes all you need is a break. By bottle feeding, you can rest from the feeding session and give your partner the responsibility. It will allow your partner to bond with the baby and give you needed rest.

  • You can freely enjoy your guilty pleasures.

While breastfeeding, you have to be careful about all your eating habits. Bottle feeding allows you to have that one extra cup of coffee or glass of wine without any worry. Even socializing with friends becomes easy when you have a baby bottle ready to go.

  • Sit through fewer feeding sessions.

A baby can easily digest breast milk. Meanwhile, formula milk takes more time to be digested and processed by the body. It will keep your baby full for a longer time. Hence you will have to sit through lesser feeding sessions.

  • You can choose what to feed the baby.

As a mother, you choose what type of formula you want your baby to have. When bottle-feeding, you can select a procedure that is fortified with iron and is hypoallergenic, etc. This choice helps you add more nutrients to your baby’s milk.

  • It is easier to identify your baby’s needs.

Babies tend to get fussy over any unmet needs. When breastfeeding, it is difficult to determine what is making your baby so grumpy. Is it a stomach ache, diaper rash, or are they just hungry? While you bottle-fed the baby,  you can check why the baby is getting fussy.

  • Baby feeding bottles help in development.

When you bottle-fed a baby, their instincts kick in as they try to grab the bottle. It helps in motor development. Designs on the bottle also enrich the baby’s imagination and cognitive skills. EA free baby feeding bottle is available in our shop! Buy them here.

All in all, bottle feeding is a good alternative for breastfeeding. It is not only for those mothers who cannot produce milk but also for those who wish to find extra time for themselves and their baby.