Learning About Oral Play and Stimulation When Your Baby Is Tube Feeding
Tube feeding gives your baby nutrients until they're ready to breastfeed or bottle-feed. Oral play helps your baby get used to touch around their mouth and build feeding skills. Watch your baby's cues to know when to continue or stop.
What is tube feeding for babies?
Tube feeding is a way to give your baby nutrients through a tube into their stomach. The tube carries breast milk, formula, or a mix of the two. Many babies who are sick or born early (premature) cannot feed by mouth. Tube feeding helps your baby get the nourishment they need to grow. When your baby gets strong enough, they can switch to breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
Why is oral play and stimulation done?
Babies who tube feed can be very sensitive to having anything near or in their mouth. They can also have trouble sucking and swallowing. With oral play and stimulation, you gently touch areas around and inside your baby’s mouth, including their lips, cheeks, jaw, and tongue. This helps your baby get used to being touched. It also helps your baby build the skills they need to breastfeed or bottle-feed.
How is it done?
Follow your doctor’s instructions for how to do oral play and stimulation with your baby. Here are some general tips.
- Make tube feedings feel like breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.During the tube feeding, hold and cuddle your baby. Give your baby a pacifier or your clean finger to suck on. This teaches your baby that sucking and feeding go together.
- Consider having your baby suck on your breast without feeding.To make sure your baby doesn't get milk, pump before placing your baby at your breast. This is another way for them to practice sucking and prepare for feeding by mouth later.
- Give touches around your baby's mouth when they aren't feeding. For example, you can touch their mouth with a clean finger or soft blanket, pretend their stuffed animal is giving them a kiss, or softly wipe their face during bath time. These touches can help you feel close to your baby.
What signs should you watch for?
As you do oral play and stimulation, watch your baby’s behavior. Your baby will show signs that they like or don’t like the touching.
Signs that your baby is enjoying the touching may include:
- Relaxing their body.
- Opening their mouth.
- Making eye contact.
- Rooting for something to suck on.
Signs that your baby is stressed and that it's time to stop may include:
- Pulling or turning away.
- Fussing or crying.
- Closing their mouth.
- Grimacing or gagging.
- Raising their eyebrows.
- Looking away.
- Arching, grunting, or bearing down.