[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-639033-105":59,"doc-detail-639033-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","a-guide-to-finger-feeding-information-for-parents-and-carers","A Guide to Finger-Feeding - Information for parents and carers","","A Guide to Finger-Feeding provides parent-focused guidance for babies who cannot latch on to the breast during early feeding challenges. It explains when and why finger-feeding may help while expressed breastmilk is given safely, especially as colostrum thick feeds change to thinner milk. The guide lists required equipment and gives step-by-step instructions for setup, use, comfort, troubleshooting, and follow-up support after discharge, plus helpful resources.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/a-guide-to-finger-feeding-information-for-parents-and-carers/639033/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/a-guide-to-finger-feeding-information-for-parents-and-carers/639033.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"cimolpedes","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-11","2026-10-22",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",13,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"When should parents consider finger-feeding instead of bottle-feeding?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"Finger-feeding may help when a baby is not attaching to the breast for feeds (latching-on). It can be used as a short-term bridge while learning to breastfeed.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"Why does finger-feeding become unsafe to replace with syringe feeding later on?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"In the very early days expressed milk (colostrum) is thick and sticky, but as supply increases it becomes thinner. Feeding in this way later can raise the risk of choking.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What are the key steps to finger-feed using an NG tube and a teat?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"Cut a larger hole in the teat and attach it to a bottle of milk, insert the NG tube’s round end through the teat hole into the milk, tape the tube level with the fingertip, then gently encourage the baby to root, open, and suck the finger while milk is pulled up the tube.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},639033,1792710304,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":39,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":46,"preview_page_count":4},962094243610,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","A Guide to Finger-Feeding  \nInformation for parents and carers  \nWhy might I want to finger-feed my baby?  \nYou may want to think about finger-feeding if your baby is not attaching to your breast for feeds (called latching-on) . This can be a common challenge for both mother and baby in the early days but, with the right support, you will both be breastfeeding soon.  \nDuring the time that your baby is not attaching to your breast it is important to make sure they receive your expressed breastmilk. In the very early days this can be given using an oral syringe, as the first milk (called colostrum) is thick and sticky. However, as your milk supply increases it becomes thinner/more liquid, and it becomes unsafe to feed your baby in this way as there is a greater risk of choking.  \nSome babies can find it difficult to attach to the breast if they are fed with artificial teats or given dummies while they are learning to breastfeed. This can be because of two things:  \n• They get a faster and more continuous milk flow from the bottle.  \n• They have to use a different mouth, jaw and tongue action with a dummy or artificial teat compared to suckling at the breast.  \nFinger-feeding is a short-term solution to bridge the gap while your baby learns to attach to your breast, meaning you can choose not to introduce an artificial teat and bottle.  \nThere are several benefits that have been seen and recorded of finger-feeding over bottle-feeding if you are intending to breastfeed:  \n• Finger-feeding attempts to mimic the experience of breastfeeding more closely than feeding with a bottle.  \n• Your baby has to suck for a few seconds before they receive the milk, just like breastfeeding.  \n• Your baby must keep their tongue forward over their bottom gum, have a wide mouth (this is why using your largest finger is best) and have their jaw forward. These are all things they need to do when breastfeeding.  \n• It allows your baby to control the flow of milk and means that your baby has to actively feed rather than just swallow – just as if they are breastfeeding.  \n• It encourages your baby to co-ordinate their tongue movements and associate this with the reward of milk.  \nWhat will I need?  \n• nasogastric tube (NG tube) size 5F  \n• soft tape  \n• scissors  \n• teat  \n• bottle  \n• your expressed breastmilk, donor breastmilk or artificial milk if neither of these are available.  \nIf you are being discharged home whilst still finger-feeding, you will need to discuss how to clean the equipment with your midwife.  \nHow to finger-feed your baby  \nFinger-feeding is just like using a straw! You will be using a tube called a nasogastric tube (also called a NG tube) that is taped to your finger. You will let your baby suck from one end of the NG tube while the other end is in the milk.  \nInstructions:  \n• Wash your hands and make sure your nails are not too long.  \n• Cut a larger hole in the top of the teat, using scissors. Then attach the teat to the bottle of milk.  \n• Cut off the stopper of the NG tube, but leave the larger round end in place.  \n• Post the larger round end through the hole you have made in the teat and into the milk.  \n• With the pad side of your finger facing upwards, place the other end of the NG tube level with the tip of your biggest finger.  \n• Secure the tube to your finger using the soft tape. Place the soft tape a few centimetres away from your finger-tip so that it is not near your baby’s mouth.  \n• Cuddle your baby close and gently encourage them to root and open their mouth. This can be done by stroking their cheek or top lip.  \n• Once your baby opens their mouth, gently insert your finger with the pad side of your finger facing upwards.  \n• Allow your baby to suck your finger and the milk will gradually be pulled up the tube.  \nThe tube is not likely to become blocked. If your baby gags, just move your finger back so that it is not so far into their mouth.  \nAfter you leave hospital, if you need any help with finger-feeding, b","cbCaintcHuUqP5ub","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaintcHuUqP5ub","pdf",714091,"English","# Why might I want to finger-feed my baby?\n# What will I need?\n# How to finger-feed your baby\n# Useful resources","[{\"question\":\"When should parents consider finger-feeding instead of bottle-feeding?\",\"answer\":\"Finger-feeding may help when a baby is not attaching to the breast for feeds (latching-on). It can be used as a short-term bridge while learning to breastfeed.\"},{\"question\":\"Why does finger-feeding become unsafe to replace with syringe feeding later on?\",\"answer\":\"In the very early days expressed milk (colostrum) is thick and sticky, but as supply increases it becomes thinner. Feeding in this way later can raise the risk of choking.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the key steps to finger-feed using an NG tube and a teat?\",\"answer\":\"Cut a larger hole in the teat and attach it to a bottle of milk, insert the NG tube’s round end through the teat hole into the milk, tape the tube level with the fingertip, then gently encourage the baby to root, open, and suck the finger while milk is pulled up the tube.\"}]","A Guide to Finger-Feeding - Information for parents and carers | PDF",1792701262]