1. Reasons why babies take a long time to breastfeed
There may be many reasons why babies take longer to breastfeed, including but not limited to the following:
1. Babies have strong hunger and need more nutrients to meet their growth and development needs;
2. The baby\’s oral cavity is not yet fully developed and his swallowing ability is weak, so it takes longer to complete a meal;
3. When breastfeeding, the mother’s milk secretion is insufficient or the amount of milk is small, causing the baby to need to eat frequently to meet its needs;
4. Babies may have digestive problems, such as gastrointestinal tract not adaptable to dairy products, etc.
2. How to judge whether the breastfeeding time needs to be extended
Normally, the time for your baby to eat each time should be between 20-40 minutes. If it exceeds this range, the following situations may exist:
1. The baby is hungry: If the baby has been hungry for a long time before feeding and appears very hungry during the feeding process, then they may take more time to feed.
2. The baby\’s oral cavity is not fully developed: If the baby\’s swallowing ability is weak, or the oral cavity is not fully developed, it may take longer for them to complete a feeding.
3. Insufficient breast milk secretion: If the mother\’s milk secretion is insufficient or the amount of milk is small, the baby may need to eat more frequently to meet her needs.
3. Things to note when extending breastfeeding time
1. You need to pay attention to whether the baby is full, otherwise feeding for a long time will cause indigestion and other problems;
2. If breast milk secretion is insufficient, consider increasing the frequency of pumping or adding formula milk powder;
3. If the baby chokes on milk during feeding, the feeding needs to be stopped in time and appropriate treatment should be provided.
4. How to help babies shorten their eating time
1. Give appropriate stimulation: Before feeding, you can give appropriate massage or gentle back stimulation to promote the baby\’s swallowing and digestion;
2. Change the position: Changing the feeding position can help the baby swallow faster, such as letting the baby tilt his head to drink milk or lie on his side to feed;
3. Increase the number of meals: If the baby is not full in one meal, consider increasing the number of meals instead of extending the time of a single meal.
5. Conclusion
Longer breastfeeding times for babies may cause some trouble to parents, but on the premise of ensuring the health of the baby, we should try our best to meet their needs. If you have any questions or confusion about infant feeding, it is recommended to consult a doctor or professional in time.
