Are you breastfeeding, are you going to breastfeed or have you breastfed? You have probably already heard of nipple-pacifier confusion. It can occur in breastfed babies who decide to also give them a bottle to drink from or a pacifier to sleep with. But what do we know about nipple-pacifier confusion? Does it really exist? Can babies really confuse a pacifier with their mother's breast? If so, where does this disorder come from? How can it be identified and what solutions can be provided?
ARTICLE SUMMARY:
Breast-pacifier confusion: what are we talking about?
Over the young parents of a breastfed infant, breast-pacifier confusion hovers like a legend. Accused of almost all evils, but especially of complicating and even putting an end to breastfeeding, it could occur when introducing the bottle and more rarely the pacifier. “Confused” babies would then refuse to continue suckling at the mother's breast to only accept the bottle.
In reality, from a physiological point of view, The link between bottle feeding and breastfeeding disruption has never been established . Breast-nipple confusion is more likely to originate from a baby's difficulty in latching on to the breast, which would lead them to prefer the bottle. Thus, the word "confusion" is particularly unsuitable for the phenomenon.
How do I know if my baby has nipple confusion?
Identifying nipple confusion is not easy. It is first and foremost a matter of putting one's finger on a sucking disorder in infants , babies or very young children. In practice, what adults call "breast-pacifier confusion" manifests itself in children in different ways.
- Baby gets upset when at the breast , cries, seems to refuse breastfeeding.
- He is unable, or no longer able, to latch on to the breast properly , which he latches on and off, latches on and off, or pinches, which can be painful.
These reactions can also be a sign of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), infant colic, or hidden pain or discomfort. If observing your baby isn't enough to put you on the right track, consult your GP or paediatrician. If you don't know them yet, you can also meet the lactation consultants association , who can help you.
What if it was all about milk flow?
Because bottle feeding and breastfeeding are two very different things, just as some babies prefer breast milk to formula, others might develop a preference for the faster flow of milk given from a bottle . This can occur, for example, in cases of moderate lactation. The baby—despite his efforts to suckle—receives less milk from the breast than from the bottle and may then prefer the latter.
Breast-pacifier confusion: where can it come from?
The origin of nipple confusion is specific to each baby, their birth, and their history. However, it seems that the most common causes are not directly related to the introduction of a nipple, but rather to:
- A lack of tongue mobility caused by a frenulum, especially at the level of the upper lip,
- of the tensions established during pregnancy or at the time of childbirth , which cause stiffness in the tongue, mouth or even the head,
- A impaired coordination of sucking and swallowing ,
- there prematurity of the baby,
- a decreased breast milk production , etc.
Breast-pacifier confusion: what are the consequences?
Sucking: an essential role for babies
Among the archaic reflexes present from birth, is suction. Acquired in utero, this ability is used for feeding the infant, relaxing him and many other things.
- At each feeding, the suction mechanism changes intracranial pressure, which helps modulate the shape of the skull babies, whose bones (temporal, sphenoid and ethmoid bones in particular) are not fused at birth. palace, it too develops to allow for proper placement of teeth and evolution of the airways.
- Sucking also accompanies the development of the jaws and many facial muscles , of which it alone influences part of the physiognomy.
- When baby suckles, he must breathe through his nose . This form of breathing is the most effective for oxygenating the brain and activating the vagal system linked to relaxation.
Solutions for your baby
Getting back to basics of breastfeeding
Once the source of the confusion has been identified, do not hesitate to resume breastfeeding from scratch (or almost). Offer your baby the breast often, day and night, but without insisting . You can also compress your chest a little to increase the expression of breast milk, and do this in a quiet place, one-on-one with your baby.
Imagining alternatives to the bottle
It is not widely known, but there are several ways to give milk to a baby. Depending on the age of the infant or child, they are more or less known and accessible.
- THE Lactation Aid Device (DAL) helps avoid the use of pacifiers.
- There oral syringe sprays milk directly into baby's mouth, from the sides.
- There soft cup, spoon or cup bottle , allows older babies to drink by sucking the milk. As the need for sucking is unsatisfied, breastfeeding becomes easier.
- THE glass or cup , in a sitting position from 6 months.
Renew the bottle/teat duo
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As a bonus, consult an osteopath
Gentle on the body and particularly attentive to the needs of babies, perinatal osteopathy is practiced from birth . RGO, infant colic or sucking difficulties , through slow and adapted manipulations, the therapist releases the accumulated energies and tensions to offer the infant better mobility.
