A New Beginning

Breastfeeding

Frequently Asked Questions about Breastfeeding Others Feeding Baby, Pacifier Use

When can other people feed my baby?

Most literature agrees that it is a good idea to exclusively breastfeed for the first 3 to 4 weeks before introducing a bottle. This assures that your baby will be breastfeeding efficiently and that you will have a good milk supply. Lactation consultants and health care providers have seen babies develop what is known as “flow preference” if bottles are introduced too soon after birth. Your baby could develop bottle preference at any age if too many bottles are given. Also, your milk volume could diminish due to the decreased feedings at the breast. After your milk supply is well established, you should be able to allow someone else to feed your baby a bottle of pumped or expressed breast milk.

What are the recommendations about pacifiers?

For breastfeeding babies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that during the first 4 weeks, pacifier use should be limited to specific medical situations, such as for pain

relief or enhancing oral motor function. A pacifier can also be used to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) but should be delayed at least a month, when breastfeeding is well established. The risk of SIDS is greatest between the ages of 2 to 4 months. After the first month, you may give your baby a pacifier when putting them down for sleep, but do not coat it in any sweet solution or reinsert it if it falls out once they go to sleep. Check with your baby’s health care provider for their recommendations on pacifier use.

Remember Sucking on a pacifier may make it difficult for you to recognize baby’s hunger cues.

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Chapter 9: Breastfeeding