Is It Normal for Babies to Fall Asleep Easily While Breastfeeding?

Falling asleep while breastfeeding is potentially normal or abnormal for babies. There are two main reasons for this behavior: physiological drowsiness and pathological drowsiness. Different measures should be taken to address this issue depending on the underlying cause. What are the risks of babies falling asleep while breastfeeding? Here are four main points:

1. Risk of dental caries: The saliva secretion during sleep decreases the cleaning function in the mouth, and the prolonged presence of milk in the mouth can damage the structure of baby teeth. To prevent this, offer a bottle of warm water after breastfeeding to rinse out any residual milk in the mouth.

2. Risk of choking: When a baby is unconscious, the coordination of the oral and pharyngeal muscles is insufficient, making it difficult to protect the airway. This can lead to the risk of milk infiltrating and causing choking.

3. Impact on appetite: Since the milk is consumed when the baby is drowsy, they may not feel hungry when they are awake. This can lead to a lack of desire for food and increased aversion to milk over time.

4. Development of passive psychological behavior: Humans seek what they need, such as food when hungry or clothing when cold. Similarly, babies need to experience hunger to develop a good appetite. Falling asleep easily during breastfeeding creates a passive habit that can be detrimental to the baby in the long run.