Jacqui’s problem solving answer

When breastfeeding, we call your baby’s rapid intake of breast milk suckling controlled guzzling; whilst uncontrolled guzzling is the term we use when bottle feeding your baby. Regardless of whether it is expressed breast milk or fomula. 

Controlled guzzling is when your breastfeeding baby actively controls their breast milk intake while suckling. Babies do this giving themselves several mini breaks whilst suckling. They may suddenly pull away from your breast whilst feeding for just a few seconds before going straight back on. Or simply take shorter but frequent sips, before finally letting your nipple slip out of their mouth voluntarily, without bothering to latch on again.

Uncontrolled guzzling is when your bottle fed baby gulps down their feed without taking a break unless you give it to them. Most babies when bottle feeding resent being given a break and will express their objection with loud crying. However, it is good to bear in mind that whilst your breast skin is soft and tender in baby’s mouth, the bottle teat is plastic and not as tender. 

Therefore, it is necessary to regulate the rapid intake of milk from the bottle teat when your baby is bottle feeding. Otherwise your baby may end up with prolonged discomfort after the feed, which would keep you and your baby very restless. 

Please note that your baby’s tummy discomfort would be caused by any of the following reasons:

Too much gas in the stomach which could result into swollen and bloated tummy

Indigestion from having taken the feed too quickly with no breaks in between, hence the discomfort of your baby’s delicate digestive system trying to break down a feed that has been hastily swallowed

Or your baby may simply bring back the whole feed immediately after feeding or even a few hours later. This usually means the loss of a good amount of milk at that feed, which could result in making your baby feel hungrier sooner than you would normally have planned for in your flexible feeding schedule of every 2-3hrs when using breast milk alone for full term and healthy babies. 

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This Problem solving tip is taken from a soon-to-be published Newborn baby Manual by Jacqui Nancey on Breastfeeding, Sleepless nights, Baby Colic and Infant Weaning.