by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

Finger Feeding

The main purpose of finger feeding is to prepare the baby to take the breast when the baby is reluctant or refuses to latch on. See the information sheet When Baby Does Not Yet Latch. Though finger feeding can be used to feed a baby and thus avoid artificial nipples, this is not what it is meant to do really. Furthermore, if the baby is actually taking the breast (latching on) and requires supplementation, this supplementation should be given with a lactation aid at the breast not by finger feeding. See the information sheet Lactation Aid and the video clips.

Too often finger feeding is used to feed the baby when a mother has sore nipples and the baby is taken off the breast. This is seen as not interfering with breastfeeding while, at the same time, the “nipples are given a rest”. Taking a baby off the breast for any reason, including sore nipples, should be a last resort only. See the information sheets When Latching, Sore Nipples, APNO ("all purpose nipple ointment"), Candida Protocol, Gentian Violet, Fluconazole/strong> and video clips showing how to latch a baby on.

Finger feeding may be used if:

1. The baby refuses the breast for whatever reason, or if the baby is too sleepy at the breast to breastfeed well. It is also a very good way to wake up a sleepy baby during the first few days of life and there are concerns about intake.

2. The baby does not seem to be able to latch on to the breast properly, and thus does not get milk well. (However, if the baby is latching on, even not well, then it is better to use a lactation aid at the breast to give extra milk).

3. The baby is separated from the mother, for whatever reason. However, in such a situation, a cup is probably a better method of feeding the baby. Since finger feeding should be used primarily to help a baby take the breast when he is reluctant or temporarily unable, the best technique is not finger feeding if the mother is not present to breastfeed him.

4. Breastfeeding is stopped temporarily (there are very few legitimate reasons to stop breastfeeding. See the information sheets Medication and Breastfeeding and Illness and Breastfeeding.

5. Your nipples are so sore that you cannot put the baby to the breast. Finger feeding for several days may allow your nipples to heal without causing more problems by getting the baby used to an artificial nipple. However, see the first paragraph about taking the baby off the breast. Cup feeding is also more appropriate in this situation and takes less time.

Taking a baby off the breast should be a last resort only but too often is done as a first resort. Proper positioning and a good latch help sore nipples far more than finger feeding (see the information sheet Sore Nipples). And a good "all purpose nipple ointment" will help as well. This so called "nipple holiday" is not advisable and if suggested within the first few days of life may be a terrible mistake. Taking the baby off the breast does not always result in painless feedings once you start again and sometimes the baby will refuse to latch on.

Finger feeding is much more similar to breastfeeding than is bottle feeding. In order to finger feed, the baby must keep his tongue down and forward over the gums, his mouth wide (the larger the finger used, the better so using a baby finger to do finger feeding is not a good idea), and his jaw forward. Furthermore, the motion of the tongue and jaw is similar to what the baby does while feeding at the breast.

Finger feeding is best used to prepare the baby who is refusing to latch on to take the breast. It needs to be done only for a minute or two, at the most, just before trying the baby on the breast if the baby is refusing to latch on. See video clip Finger Feed to Latch. If the mother is not present to feed the baby or if the baby still doesn't latch on after the finger feeding is attempted, then feeding the baby with a cup is better than finger feeding which can be slow.

Please Note: If the baby is taking the breast, it is far better to use the lactation aid tube at the breast, if supplementation is truly necessary (See information sheet Protocol for Managing Breastmilk Intake and Lactation Aid). Again, finger feeding is not a good method of supplementation in the latching baby.

How to Finger Feed

Finger feeding (best learned by watching and doing). See also the video clip Not Yet Latching; Finger feed to Latch