Northside Hospital - Special Beginnings

BABY FEEDING SIGNS Feedings are most successful when your baby is awake but calm. Notice how your baby behaves before and during the feeding. If the behavior changes he may be trying to communicate that he can no longer stay focused on the task of coordinating the feeding with suck, swallow, and breathing. Some signs of behavior to look for include:

Signs that your baby needs to stop feeding:

Signs that your baby needs to take a break:

• Makes gulping, coughing or choking sounds • Milk drools out of the mouth • Makes a face, grimaces, furrows the brow • Pushes away or turns head away • Stops sucking often or for a long time • Body, arms and legs are limp, mouth is open • Falls asleep, or “shuts down” • Breathes faster than 60 times a minute • Stops breathing, heart rate slows, does not get enough air (oxygen)

• Stares or avoids looking at you • Face has a look of panic or worry • Cannot wake up, yawns a lot

• Anxious activity such as back arched, arms extended, hands open, fingers separated • Color changes • Breathing rate is increased

Your baby may receive developmental and/or feeding therapy services while in the SCN. The Occupational Therapist (OT), Physical Therapist (PT) or Speech Therapist (ST) will complete a developmental or feeding assessment and contact you regarding your infant’s assessment and plan. Each assessment will be unique to each baby.

Special Beginnings in the Special Care Nurseries

17