Comments for http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:24:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 Comment on BREAST FEEDING versus BOTTLE FEEDING: The Right Decision for You! by nmay http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/29/breast-feeding-versus-bottle-feeding/#comment-24 nmay Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:02:43 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/29/breast-feeding-versus-bottle-feeding/#comment-24 Thanks for such a fair and balanced look at breastfeeding and bottle feeding. I nursed all 3 of my children, but did supplement with formula as well. I really do think it's a very personal decision and no mother should feel shamed or less than because she chooses to bottle feed instead of breast feed. There is an excellent debate about this at www.opposingviews.com/questions/will-formula-feeding-harm-my-baby Experts from both sides debate the issue...really great discussion! Thanks for such a fair and balanced look at breastfeeding and bottle feeding. I nursed all 3 of my children, but did supplement with formula as well. I really do think it’s a very personal decision and no mother should feel shamed or less than because she chooses to bottle feed instead of breast feed. There is an excellent debate about this at http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/will-formula-feeding-harm-my-baby Experts from both sides debate the issue…really great discussion!

]]> Comment on NIPPLE SHIELDS by Nurse Sue http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-17 Nurse Sue Sun, 04 May 2008 04:38:32 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-17 HI Tasha! I am sorry to hear you had a rough start to your breastfeeding experience but I am pleased that you have the determination to persist with it. Obviously, this is very important to you and you will be assisted in every way possible! Already, you have had an experienced Mom, Helena, write in to support your efforts and Helena is absolutely right! This problem is fixable! Thank you Helena for offering your support! Tasha, your baby is going through a nipple confusion phase. She was fed by bottle in the hospital right from the start and it is easier to get milk from a bottle than it is to suck it from a breast! The taste and texture of your breast is different than a nipple. You have 2 choices to correct her confusion and get her nursing from your breast! 1. Pump the milk from your breast and give it to her in a bottle. She will be happy to not have her routine changed when she is really hungry. Feed her the bottle at the beginning and end of her feeding. In the middle, when she is a little sleepy and not so famished, switch her to your breast. Each feeding, give her a little less time with the bottle and more time on your breast. Note: If you are using a manual breast pump to place milk into the bottle, I am a little concerned that you may gradually lose your milk supply as the pump stimulation of the milk glands is not sufficient as an ongoing procedure. 2. If you would like to try to switch over to a nipple shield, she will probably take the shield as she is already used to the nipple on a bottle. It is true as Helena has already mentioned that the nipple shield also does not stimulate as much milk production as a bare breast but it is certainly better than a manual breast pump. It also may prepare her for the breast feeding routine and teach her to latch properly without doing damage to your nipples. Hold your right breast firmly in your left hand and the baby's head in your right hand and squeeze your breast into a cone shaped nipple. Some milk will may squirt out, rub this on her lips. Push the nipple shield into the back of your baby's mouth ensuring that the nipple is on top of your baby's tongue. Held in that position as she closes her mouth and starts to suck should give her a good latch and you can assume a more comfortable position. Her mouth should be around your milk glands on the areola, not just on the nipple. Again, feed her using the nipple shield at the beginning of her feeding when she is really hungry. Towards the end of her feeding, switch to your bare breast. A sleepy baby is much easier to work with than a hungry, angry baby who is confused with her milk source! Each feeding, start with the nipple shield but give her a little less time with it, replacing with your bare breast. Eventually, she will be totally on the breast! Both of these methods work well and rarely fail. It does take time however. Be patient, do the changeover very gradualy and expect it to take at least a week to work. I have written an Article which is published on the Little Tyke Talk Web Site about this weaning procedure and if you have not read it, please do! Best of luck to you and Congrats on your persistence to breastfeed! You deserve to succeed. I am also glad you are addressing this immediately. A Lactation Specialist would be happy to help out as well if you continue to have problems. Always here, Nurse Sue. HI Tasha!
I am sorry to hear you had a rough start to your breastfeeding experience but I am pleased that you have the determination to persist with it. Obviously, this is very important to you and you will be assisted in every way possible! Already, you have had an experienced Mom, Helena, write in to support your efforts and Helena is absolutely right! This problem is fixable! Thank you Helena for offering your support!

Tasha, your baby is going through a nipple confusion phase. She was fed by bottle in the hospital right from the start and it is easier to get milk from a bottle than it is to suck it from a breast! The taste and texture of your breast is different than a nipple.

You have 2 choices to correct her confusion and get her nursing from your breast!

1. Pump the milk from your breast and give it to her in a bottle. She will be happy to not have her routine changed when she is really hungry. Feed her the bottle at the beginning and end of her feeding. In the middle, when she is a little sleepy and not so famished, switch her to your breast. Each feeding, give her a little less time with the bottle and more time on your breast.

Note: If you are using a manual breast pump to place milk into the bottle, I am a little concerned that you may gradually lose your milk supply as the pump stimulation of the milk glands is not sufficient as an ongoing procedure.

2. If you would like to try to switch over to a nipple shield, she will probably take the shield as she is already used to the nipple on a bottle. It is true as Helena has already mentioned that the nipple shield also does not stimulate as much milk production as a bare breast but it is certainly better than a manual breast pump. It also may prepare her for the breast feeding routine and teach her to latch properly without doing damage to your nipples.

Hold your right breast firmly in your left hand and the baby’s head in your right hand and squeeze your breast into a cone shaped nipple. Some milk will may squirt out, rub this on her lips. Push the nipple shield into the back of your baby’s mouth ensuring that the nipple is on top of your baby’s tongue. Held in that position as she closes her mouth and starts to suck should give her a good latch and you can assume a more comfortable position. Her mouth should be around your milk glands on the areola, not just on the nipple.

Again, feed her using the nipple shield at the beginning of her feeding when she is really hungry. Towards the end of her feeding, switch to your bare breast. A sleepy baby is much easier to work with than a hungry, angry baby who is confused with her milk source! Each feeding, start with the nipple shield but give her a little less time with it, replacing with your bare breast. Eventually, she will be totally on the breast!

Both of these methods work well and rarely fail. It does take time however. Be patient, do the changeover very gradualy and expect it to take at least a week to work.

I have written an Article which is published on the Little Tyke Talk Web Site about this weaning procedure and if you have not read it, please do!
Best of luck to you and Congrats on your persistence to breastfeed! You deserve to succeed. I am also glad you are addressing this immediately. A Lactation Specialist would be happy to help out as well if you continue to have problems.

Always here,
Nurse Sue.

]]> Comment on NIPPLE SHIELDS by Helena http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-16 Helena Sat, 03 May 2008 16:00:13 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-16 Less breast milk may come out when using the nipple shield but it won't make a difference in the long run. From what i experienced, babies take whatever you give them and evolve with it. If you start a baby on the breast and then switch to a bottle, in approx. two weeks they will grow to like the bottle. Same with nipple shields. If you use a nipple shield, your baby will prefer the nipple shield until you switch to the breast then after a couple weeks your baby will prefer the breast. Sue, let me know if i'm wrong here but this is what i experienced with Skyla. Less breast milk may come out when using the nipple shield but it won’t make a difference in the long run. From what i experienced, babies take whatever you give them and evolve with it. If you start a baby on the breast and then switch to a bottle, in approx. two weeks they will grow to like the bottle. Same with nipple shields. If you use a nipple shield, your baby will prefer the nipple shield until you switch to the breast then after a couple weeks your baby will prefer the breast.

Sue, let me know if i’m wrong here but this is what i experienced with Skyla.

]]> Comment on NIPPLE SHIELDS by Tasha http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-15 Tasha Fri, 02 May 2008 15:08:50 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-15 hi! i had a baby on march 23rd 2008. she is 5 weeks and 2 days. and because i was sick during labor they took her away the min she was born and they were giving her a bottle. she got use to it and she does wanna take my boob. the question is will the nipple shield work for her? will she start to latch on? and if she does do i need to keep using it? because i am affraid if i will not use nipple shield she will feel that the breast is different and she is going to stop taking it?! thanks. and i hope i explained this correctly. hi! i had a baby on march 23rd 2008. she is 5 weeks and 2 days. and because i was sick during labor they took her away the min she was born and they were giving her a bottle. she got use to it and she does wanna take my boob. the question is will the nipple shield work for her? will she start to latch on? and if she does do i need to keep using it? because i am affraid if i will not use nipple shield she will feel that the breast is different and she is going to stop taking it?!
thanks. and i hope i explained this correctly.

]]> Comment on NIPPLE SHIELDS by Nurse Sue http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-14 Nurse Sue Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:26:05 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-14 Kristen....after looking outside, i just thought of another thing I do with my granddaughter. <strong>It's the perfect time of year for a picnic! </strong> Buy your little tyke a lunchbox, his size! Have one for yourself and any other child present as well. Place finger foods in his lunchbox and have a picnic in the house or outside on a blanket. He can carry his own lunchbox! I found this to be very helpful witt my children who displayed the same objections to table foods. I also made foods with faces on them to make eating more fun! Cookie cutters make great shapes out of bread; and decorate the bread with two eyes, a nose and mouth with simple foods. I can't wait to have a picnic with my granddaughter... Summers here, Yeah! Hope this helps. Sue Kristen….after looking outside, i just thought of another thing I do with my granddaughter.

It’s the perfect time of year for a picnic!

Buy your little tyke a lunchbox, his size! Have one for yourself and any other child present as well. Place finger foods in his lunchbox and have a picnic in the house or outside on a blanket. He can carry his own lunchbox!

I found this to be very helpful witt my children who displayed the same objections to table foods. I also made foods with faces on them to make eating more fun! Cookie cutters make great shapes out of bread; and decorate the bread with two eyes, a nose and mouth with simple foods.

I can’t wait to have a picnic with my granddaughter… Summers here, Yeah!

Hope this helps.

Sue

]]> Comment on NIPPLE SHIELDS by Nurse Sue http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-13 Nurse Sue Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:04:27 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-13 Hi Kristen! What you are experiencing is actually a very common problem with toddlers; and you are absolutely right, it is a texture problem! Tykes seem to anticipate foods other than baby foods, and many are known to be quite stubborn with texture change. As you may have already encoutered, many display a very active gag reflex! To accomplish your objective, you will need to <strong>slowly</strong> introduce him to table foods at the beginning of every meal. Work on keeping the baby food out of sight, but not completely gone as you may have to "top him up" with baby food if he chooses not to eat enough. <strong>Does he like peas? </strong> This is one of the more successful items to introduce in the beginning. Well cooked <em>sweet baby peas</em>, placed directly on his tray, are fun to play with and have a satisfying "pop" when babies use their tongues to "test" the texture. Using table foods similar in flavour to his favorite baby foods is another great strategy to get him hooked on table food. Other suggestions: Soft fruits cut out into small pieces and ripe banannas squished nicely! The solid foods need to be <strong>more </strong>cooked than you would normally prepare for yourself. His taste buds will not change over night and meal times will be extended. Successful techniques from other moms: 1. Try putting his highchair in front of the TV so that his attention is slightly off what he is finger feeding himself. 2. Does he eat baby cookies? This can be another way to start him off as most babies like cookies! Who doesn;t..lol... 3. Offer bite size finger foods for snacks as well as meals. A hungry tyke will learn to incorporate table food into his diet. 4. Make a game of his eating; this will increase interest. "Yeahhh!Hooray! goes a long way!!" 5. Helping him put solids into his mouth is fine, but it is <strong>important </strong>to let him squish and feel them on his own. He may make a mess, but eventually he will eat solids. Also, don't worry too much about him not chewing at first, that will come as long as the pieces are small. He will learn to chew them or gum them depending on the teeth he has. Good luck and we all would love to hear how you make out! Nurse Sue Hi Kristen!
What you are experiencing is actually a very common problem with toddlers; and you are absolutely right, it is a texture problem! Tykes seem to anticipate foods other than baby foods, and many are known to be quite stubborn with texture change. As you may have already encoutered, many display a very active gag reflex! To accomplish your objective, you will need to slowly introduce him to table foods at the beginning of every meal. Work on keeping the baby food out of sight, but not completely gone as you may have to “top him up” with baby food if he chooses not to eat enough.

Does he like peas?
This is one of the more successful items to introduce in the beginning. Well cooked sweet baby peas, placed directly on his tray, are fun to play with and have a satisfying “pop” when babies use their tongues to “test” the texture. Using table foods similar in flavour to his favorite baby foods is another great strategy to get him hooked on table food. Other suggestions: Soft fruits cut out into small pieces and ripe banannas squished nicely! The solid foods need to be more cooked than you would normally prepare for yourself. His taste buds will not change over night and meal times will be extended.

Successful techniques from other moms:
1. Try putting his highchair in front of the TV so that his attention is slightly off what he is finger feeding himself.
2. Does he eat baby cookies? This can be another way to start him off as most babies like cookies! Who doesn;t..lol…
3. Offer bite size finger foods for snacks as well as meals. A hungry tyke will learn to incorporate table food into his diet.
4. Make a game of his eating; this will increase interest. “Yeahhh!Hooray! goes a long way!!”
5. Helping him put solids into his mouth is fine, but it is important to let him squish and feel them on his own. He may make a mess, but eventually he will eat solids. Also, don’t worry too much about him not chewing at first, that will come as long as the pieces are small. He will learn to chew them or gum them depending on the teeth he has.

Good luck and we all would love to hear how you make out!

Nurse Sue

]]> Comment on NIPPLE SHIELDS by Kristen http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-12 Kristen Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:29:53 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-12 Hi Sue, My 16 month old still has problems eating solid foods as he would much rather not chew and just swallow. I have tried everything but he just puts food in his mouth and spits it out. I think it is a texture thing. I am concerned he is not getting enough food but he is not loosing weight. Any sugesstions? Thanks - Kristen Hi Sue,

My 16 month old still has problems eating solid foods as he would much rather not chew and just swallow. I have tried everything but he just puts food in his mouth and spits it out. I think it is a texture thing. I am concerned he is not getting enough food but he is not loosing weight.
Any sugesstions?
Thanks - Kristen

]]> Comment on NIPPLE SHIELDS by Nurse Sue http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-11 Nurse Sue Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:25:55 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-11 Hi Linda! Good question! Hospital Pharmacies carry nipple shields as well as Children's Specialty Clothing Stores such as Bonnie Togs. Depending on where you live, some Pharmacies will have them as well. As a last resort, the Hospital Nursery will usually provide them to mothers who are having problems if the mom has had her baby in that Hospital.Good luck! Hi Linda!
Good question!
Hospital Pharmacies carry nipple shields as well as Children’s Specialty Clothing Stores such as Bonnie Togs. Depending on where you live, some Pharmacies will have them as well. As a last resort, the Hospital Nursery will usually provide them to mothers who are having problems if the mom has had her baby in that Hospital.Good luck!

]]> Comment on NIPPLE SHIELDS by Linda http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-10 Linda Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:08:31 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-10 Where can they be purchased. Linda Where can they be purchased. Linda

]]> Comment on NIPPLE SHIELDS by Nurse Sue http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-9 Nurse Sue Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:19:57 +0000 http://www.littletyketalk.com/blog/2008/02/05/nipple-shields/#comment-9 Hi Raseeka! Babies can be very picky about solid foods when they are introduced into their diet. It is a common problem and some babies will choke,gag,cry and spit out the baby food. The taste and consistency is something new and he may take some time to get used to it. If he is only 8 months old, he is hopefully still on formula and will not starve. Force feeding your little tyke is NOT an option. First try to find something he likes by giving him little tastes. I recommend that you just put some baby food on his tray and let him taste it by himself with his fingers. The next thing to try is making your own baby food and storing it in ice cube containers in your freezer. He may like your cooking better than Gerbers! Again, only try very small amounts at a time. This is not only for the baby's reaction to the food, but to insure he does not have any allergy or adverse response to the food. If he likes it, increase the portion right away. Some babies will not eat peas from a baby food jar, all smashed up, but they will eat a very well cooked, full pea set on his tray. Ofcourse he may play and smush it up and inspect it before he eats it, but it will eventually go to his mouth! Just remember that any foods you give to him on his tray must be soft, small enough that he will not choke on them and only a few on his tray at one time so that he does not put them all in his mouth at once! It may take longer to feed him and it may be more difficult to guage how much he is eating, but if he is eating well and then refuses more, he is likely full. Also, give him his solids before or in the middle of giving him his bottle. He may just not be hungry if he has had a bottle first. Have fun! This is a messy process but very satisfying for baby and for Mom as she sees him eat. Get your camera ready!! Nurse Sue Hi Raseeka!
Babies can be very picky about solid foods when they are introduced into their diet. It is a common problem and some babies will choke,gag,cry and spit out the baby food. The taste and consistency is something new and he may take some time to get used to it. If he is only 8 months old, he is hopefully still on formula and will not starve. Force feeding your little tyke is NOT an option. First try to find something he likes by giving him little tastes. I recommend that you just put some baby food on his tray and let him taste it by himself with his fingers. The next thing to try is making your own baby food and storing it in ice cube containers in your freezer. He may like your cooking better than Gerbers! Again, only try very small amounts at a time. This is not only for the baby’s reaction to the food, but to insure he does not have any allergy or adverse response to the food. If he likes it, increase the portion right away. Some babies will not eat peas from a baby food jar, all smashed up, but they will eat a very well cooked, full pea set on his tray. Ofcourse he may play and smush it up and inspect it before he eats it, but it will eventually go to his mouth! Just remember that any foods you give to him on his tray must be soft, small enough that he will not choke on them and only a few on his tray at one time so that he does not put them all in his mouth at once! It may take longer to feed him and it may be more difficult to guage how much he is eating, but if he is eating well and then refuses more, he is likely full. Also, give him his solids before or in the middle of giving him his bottle. He may just not be hungry if he has had a bottle first. Have fun! This is a messy process but very satisfying for baby and for Mom as she sees him eat. Get your camera ready!!

Nurse Sue

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