infant gavage feeding

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have compiled some frequently asked questions about infant gavage feeding that could indicate the need for monitoring or evaluation to ensure that your baby stays on the right track. Feeding difficulties need to be promptly addressed to avoid additional complications. Seek Feeding Therapy if you are concerned.

My baby soaks his clothes when he feeds, should I be concerned?

This may be something to be concerned about. Liquid loss, when milk comes out of baby’s mouth while sucking, can occur for different reasons. First, some infants have inadequate strength or support for the lips to seal the nipple. “Biting” suck patterns do not allow the lips to seal the nipple. Jaw and cheek support provided by the feeder can aid in reducing liquid loss in this case. Some babies have low tone or keep their mouths open. In this case, therapy to address correct mouth rest position and teach oral activation can reduce drooling.

Secondly, some infants purposefully “squirt” liquid from their mouths for protection if they drink too fast or they feel that the flow rate is too fast. They do this when they are worried that they may choke or aspirate (the entrance of liquids into the airway). In a sense, it is a protective mechanism. Milk loss can indicate poor coordination of sucking and swallowing and breathing, poor seal of the nipple, or it could be that your let down is too fast. It is important to monitor the times in which this loss or spillage occurs and seek the advice of a feeding specialist to help identify the reason so that the appropriate intervention can be implemented.

My baby’s weak suck is interfering with his ability to successfully feed. How can I help my baby?

Jaw support during breast or bottle feeding provides suport to the jaw so that it is able to support tongue strength during sucking. If jaw support doesn’t seem to help, it may be that baby doesn’t have the correct tongue patterns or the strength for the tongue to work correctly. Specialized feeding therapy can train the correct tongue patterns and provide you exercises that you can do with your baby to increase their suck strength. It is also important to rule out tongue tie in this situation.

My baby feeds best when he is “sleep feeding or “dream feeding”? Is this ok?

No. It is very important that your baby becomes an active participant in the feeding process. When a baby “sleep feeds”, he is communicating that feeding is so difficult that he is placing himself in a very low alert state so that he can reflexively feed. Some experts feel that babies choose this low level of alertness so that they can process sensory input at a low level, which, in turn, makes it less distracting and easier to feed. A reflexive feeding pattern is similar to a newborn pattern. Your baby being an active participant during feeding is extremely important for typical feeding development. The problem becomes more apparent when the baby is around 6 months old and is physiologically no longer able to “sleep feed”. Often, they will begin to completely refuse to eat. This is because they have not been an active participant in the feeding process from birth therefore, they loose the ability to feed awake. Research studies have shown that reflux may cause a baby to want to “sleep feed”. Often babies with reflux or who have difficulty coordinating suck/swallow/breath may choose to “sleep feed”. If this is your baby seek help now. Things can become quite stressful when the baby refuses to feed!

Why can my baby only feed in a dark quiet room? Does the enviornment impact feeding?

Some babies have very sensitive sensory systems and visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli can be overwhelming. Small changes in lighting, sound, and positioning can greatly improve organization and an infant’s ability to feed. Experiment with “quiet” days with no presenence of the television or phone, or not carrying out errands may make a huge difference in temperment and energy for feeding. Take the time to learn about your baby’s sensory processing or access help if you are not able to figgure it out on your own. Feeding therapy can address these issues and progressively enable to baby to become more competent at feeding in any environment.

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