How To Spoon Feed Expressed Breast Milk To Your Baby
When direct breastfeeding is not possible, a mother can express breast milk and feed her baby with a spoon or cup. We use a paladai, also called suthi spoon.
Paladai is a small stainless steel cup with a spout that makes it easier to feed expressed breast milk without causing nipple confusion.
Here's why parents may need to spoon feed their baby.
When to spoon feed your baby
- When the mother is unhealthy. If the mother has active tuberculosis or chickenpox infection, doctors do not allow direct breastfeeding for a while, but she can feed expressed breast milk.
- If the mother has Covid-19 and cannot breastfeed, she can express her breast milk for her baby.
- In any illness where the mother is unable to breastfeed, nursing staff can assist to express her breast milk. This will keep her breasts healthy.
- Mother expressing her breast milk to treat sore nipples or engorged breasts can feed it to her baby with a paladai.
- When the baby is premature. Babies born before the due date may not develop the sucking-swallowing coordination required for direct breastfeeding. Baby's doctor may advise giving spoon feeds to such babies.
- When the baby is admitted in NICU. Such babies may not be able to breastfeed due to their illness, but doctors may allow spoon feeding in some cases.
- A working mother can express and store her breast milk. Caregivers can feed this expressed breast milk with a spoon.
Learn how to express breast milk for your baby.
How to spoon feed your baby
1. Thaw (melt) frozen breast milk
Place frozen breast milk container in a lukewarm water bath till it is no longer cold (37°C - body temperature).
Test the temperature: Put a few drops on your wrist. It should feel warm, not hot.
Learn how to store and prepare expressed mother's milk.
2. Support your baby
- Support the baby in your lap in an upright position with your one hand beneath the baby's upper back and neck – keep the baby's neck slightly extended.
- Place a cloth on your baby's chest because some milk may spill.
3. Allow the baby to suckle from the spoon
- Take out some milk in a sterile katori.
- Fill paladai (suthi spoon) with milk.
- Gently insert the tip of paladai in baby's mouth.
- Allow the baby to suckle the milk – do not pour milk into baby's mouth.
Important: Feed slowly and let the baby control the pace. This prevents choking and helps baby learn proper feeding skills.
Benefits of spoon feeding over bottle feeding
- Prevents nipple confusion – Baby maintains proper breastfeeding technique and doesn't get confused between breast and bottle nipples (both have different sucking techniques).
- Supports continued breastfeeding – Helps maintain your milk supply.
- Reduces infection risk – Bottles can harbor bacteria if not cleaned properly. Stainless steel spoon is easier to clean and disinfect - reducing recurrent diarrhea and respiratory infections in babies.
- Prevents ear infections – Bottle feeding in lying down position can cause milk to flow into ear canal causing ear infections.
Learn how mother's milk protects the baby from infections.
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