some moms wonder When does the baby latch on to the breast? And can it be relied upon that he can feed himself without injuring himself during feeding? Follow with us, dear reader, the following article to find out the answer to this question.

artificial feeding

Although breastfeeding is considered the best way to feed the baby, some mothers may resort to it artificial feeding Or bottle-feeding and formula, formula-feeding may sometimes be used alongside breast-feeding or on its own.

The child may need some time at first to get used to feeding through the bottle, and the mother needs to follow many tips to be able to feed her child safely, in addition to that she wonders when the child will be able to hold the bottle by himself until he eats his meal, which we will show you in this article.

When does the baby hold the breast?

The mother feeds the infant using a bottle in a certain way and with a certain position, and takes time to hold the child in this position until he completes his meal and takes the whole amount of milk.

But the matter differs from one child to another depending on the motor skills that each child acquires and the child’s ability to learn the specific movement that helps him control the feeding bottle on his own. Some children may not be able to hold the feeding bottle until after 10 months of age.

Harmful effects of a baby holding a bottle

It is better not to let your child hold a feeding bottle and feed himself at an early age, because this can harm him in one way or another, as the child may choke or he may fall asleep while holding the bottle in his mouth, which helps the milk accumulate around his teeth and thus may suffer from tooth decay.

It can also increase the risk of ear infections in the child, because if the child feeds himself while lying down, milk will flow from the mouth into the Eustachian tubes in the ear, which will lead to infection in the child.

Baby bottle feeding tips

After knowing when the baby latch on to the bottle, you should know some tips that you can follow when feeding your baby via bottle feeding, including the following:

Keep the feeding bottle clean

It is necessary to keep the feeding bottle clean and sterilized sufficiently, and sterilize the nipples of the bottle as well, to prevent germs from accumulating in the feeding bottle and thus reaching the baby’s stomach with the milk.

Hold the baby appropriately

The time you spend feeding your baby with a bottle can be an opportunity to get close to your baby and make him feel safe and comfortable near you, so make sure you sit comfortably and enjoy the time you spend feeding your baby, and hold the baby in a somewhat upright position with the need to support his head, so that he can Swallowing and breathing properly.

burping

The mother should be keen to burp the child after he finishes his food, because this helps him to feel more comfortable in his stomach, so hold your child in an upright position and gently pat his back so that he can expel the gases from his stomach.

Get rid of the remaining milk

You should get rid of any formula left in the bottle after you have finished feeding your child and make sure that he has enough food, and do not think about keeping it until he eats it after that because it is not suitable for use.

And in the end, dear reader, after we made it clear to you When does the baby latch on to the breast? And tips that help you while feeding your child, we hope that we have answered all your questions on this topic and we wish you good health and wellness.