Nursing Styles
Just as no two adults are the same, babies have their own nursing styles that they are comfortable with. Sometimes, they may change their nursing styles from one kind to another during their nursing period.
Some Common Nursing Styles
Barracuda Nursing Style
If this is the nursing style preferred by your baby, then she places a firm latch on to the breast and suckles vigorously non-stop for ten to twenty minutes. As long as she is feeding, she does not pause in between. If your baby is a barracuda, you can rest assured that she is the easiest to feed. However, they suck so hard that your nipples can really hurt because of the strenuous sucking. Barracudas are also called hoovers or little vacuums.
Excited Ineffective Nursing Style
If your baby uses this kind of nursing style, she becomes excited when you offer your breast for a feed. She starts toying with the nipples and loses her grasp. She becomes frustrated and starts crying. You have to go that extra mile and be very patient with your little one. Calm your baby before offering her your breast again. Once they get the hang of nursing, such babies hold on to the nipple and suck happily.
Procrastinator Nursing Style
If your baby displays this kind of nursing style, she often shows no interest in nursing initially. This is because she may be a procrastinator. She may not even be able to suck enough milk till about the fourth or fifth day. You cannot force or compel your little one to have her feed. Just allow her to suckle as long as she wants to. However, whenever she decides that she is ready, she will drink her milk well.
Gourmet Nursing Style
If you have a gourmet nursing style baby, she enjoys playing with your nipple. She puts it into her mouth, tastes a little milk, and then makes a lip smacking sound. She will then repeat the same cycle. You cannot hasten up your little gourmet to hurry up with her food. Give her time to enjoy her feed as long as she wants. Gourmets are also called mouthers.
Rester Nursing Style
If your baby is small in size and born preterm, you might have a rester nursing style baby. She will feed herself for a few minutes and then give herself a break and start over again. She might even fall asleep when she is resting. But, she will wake herself up and start feeding. Resters are slow feeders and you need patience to feed her. Like a gourmet, there is no point in trying to hurry her through her feed.
