Touching babies head?

[ThePinkNinja]

Bf ds1 until he self weaned and now bf ds2 (6weeks old). Have read never touch babies head while feeding but never saw why.... or is this a lie?
Please someone explain this to me :)
I always find I want to cuddle him and touch him and communicate :)
Thanks x

I was told not to hold their head as their instinct it to push back against anything pressing on the back of their head so could stop them latching properly. Not reason not to touch and communicate with him, I used to stroke DD's face, snuggle her close and read to her whilst feeding from when she was tiny.

I stroke the back of DD's head while she's feeding. . I suppose you wouldn't want to hold the head so they can't pull away if there's a fast letdown or they start gagging or something?

I have never let it stop me (shouldve made that clear ) but have always worried I was breaking the rules or not doing it how I'm supposed to? :)

I think stroking the head is fine, but most books will say not to push on the back of the head when you are latching them on. They don't like having their head pushed in to their food (either do I!) and it tends to push their head down so that the chin is restricted.

Can you remember where you read this nugget?

I've heard it too - but also that some mothers instinctively stroke baby's head when feeding (I do). AFAIK stroking is okay, pushing isn't.

Unfortunately I can't .... It was during the early days of no sleep with a colic/ refluxy ds1....

When positioning him to latch him to the breast it's advisable not to hold his head, he needs to tilt his head back to enable him to take a large mouthful of breast and to get the nipple to the back of his throat and to take lovely big gulps of milk. Hold his neck and shoulders instead.

You can stroke his head and sniff it and pick the cradle cap snuggle him all you like

I'm always stroking my DD's head when feeding her, stroking her gorgeous chubby cheeks and picking waxy bits from her ears. She's just too delicious not to touch