Suck Training: A Tool for the Breastfeeding Infant

As natural as breastfeeding is, some babies, for various reason, do not have the ability to latch onto the breast correctly. In order for a baby to breastfeed, the tongue must be positioned properly in the mouth. The baby needs to be able to have a wide open mouth, rest his/her tongue on the floor of the mouth and be able to extend the tongue over the lower gum line. Basically, the tongue must be down and roll forward in order to latch on properly to the mother’s breast. If a baby has not learned how to position the tongue correctly, or has what we call a “disorganized sucking pattern” the baby can’t transfer milk appropriately resulting in poor weight gain, increased fussiness, and super sore nipples. Below is a step by step guide to suck training, to help both mom and baby have a more successful breastfeeding experience.