There is no shortage of experts on the internet giving advice, however it’s important to remember everyone’s breastfeeding journey is different and there is absolute one way to feed your baby. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), here are four things I would never tell a breastfeeding parent.

“you shouldn’t offer a breastfeeding baby a bottle.”

Most families offer bottles and this can really help parents as they go back to work or need to get away. Introducing bottles between 2-6 weeks can be a really great way to let your little one learn how to take a bottle while they are still open to it. After 6 weeks, many times a baby will reject bottles and it can be a real battle to convince them the bottle is a fun way to eat, too. Don’t fret is this is your situation already, reach out for a bottle feeding refusal consult. We are happy to help.

“It’s normal for breastfeeding to hurt.”

Tenderness is normal, but if you are having pain throughout a feed, you really want to reach out to a lactation consultant to see what’s going on. Your nipples are doing the most when you and baby are learning how to breastfeed so it’s not uncommon to feel sore or some pain at the initial 30 seconds of the latch, but any nipple damage or pain that’s lasting for the entire feed should be addressed ASAP! Tenderness usually subsides within 2-3 weeks of nursing,

“You should give babies formula to help them sleep longer.”

Breastmilk is not lacking in calories. Your baby is waking up bc they have a tiny tummy and a lot of brain development going on which is why they wake often at night. Please don’t add formula unnecessarily. This can actually create digestive upset and a cranky baby (not the goal at all!)

“You should eliminate foods from your diet.”

While food elimination can be helpful for certain babies, it's done a lot more than is necessary. Make sure to work with an allergist if you are making big diet changes for your little one. Eliminating foods also eliminates nutrition from the parents diet and creates more work for an already exhausted family.