Patient's question:
Baby chokes on milk frequently, what should I do?Baby is two months old and this is the first issue. Additional information: It only started happening in the past few days; it wasn't like this before.
Doctor's answer:
Infants in the early stages of life have not yet developed their swallowing ability well, so they are prone to choking while feeding.1. The feeding posture should be correct. The baby should be lying comfortably: sideways in your arms, with their entire body facing yours and their face toward your breast. Note that the baby should not twist their head and neck to find the nipple. Their head should rest on your forearm or the bend of your elbow. Your forearm should support their back, and your hand should support their buttocks or legs.
2. While feeding, you can use your index and middle fingers to pinch the nipple slightly, slowing the flow of milk.
3. It is best not to feed the baby while lying down. Many mothers suffer from sleep deprivation after giving birth due to caring for the child, so they often let the baby feed themselves when they are hungry. However, this can easily lead to choking.
4. Do not let the baby get very hungry before feeding, as they may eat too quickly and choke.
5. If the baby chokes on milk, gently pull down their earlobe and then hold them upright, gently patting their back.
6. For bottle-fed babies, ensure the nipple hole is not too large.
My baby also choked when drinking milk and water in the first two or three months, but it improved after a few months. There’s no need to worry too much.