Is it possible for an older baby to learn to latch?

[Alb1]

DD is nearly 6 months old (3 months corrected), she was 11 weeks early and I've expressed since she was born, we tried breast feeding when she was learning to feed but didn't get much support with it and it didn't work out so we stuck with bottle feeding her expressed milk. Keeping up with expressing with other children too is really hard so she's now on mixed feeds, half prem formula and half my milk.

Recently I've been fighting a loosing battle to increase my supply and nothing is working as I cant find more time to express so my body obviously doesn't no that she's eating more. If i fit in extra expressing sessions it means putting her down as soon as she's been fed and we don't get to cuddle, and I really need those cuddles at the minute. So if we can start picking up some breast feeds itl obviously help boost the supply and she will still get the attention she needs.

Does anyone no if a baby of her age would be able to learn to latch again? We've had a little try but no luck so far, she just doesn't recognise it as a food source anymore.

I would think definitely yes, but you need someone there for you.
Contact the Leche Liga consoling service. It is free, and someone (if you don;t live in the middle of nowhere) might even come to you.
www.laleche.org.uk/get-support/

I also think they could - it took mine about 2 months to learn, I was expressing most of that time. At one point went 3 or 4 weeks without trying to get him to latch because it was too depressing. He's now EBF. Agree you should seek some advice though, either NCT breastfeeding helpline, La Leche League, local council drop-in center or private lactation consultant. Best of luck!

Yes definitely with the right support. My son was born 12 weeks premature and I finally got him to latch and exclusively breastfeed once he was 12 weeks old. I found expressing so hard and was determined to get him breastfed. With support we gradually replaced bottles of breastmilk with breast feeds starting with the night feeds. During this transition our son was weighed twice a week to make sure he was gaining ok. Got him ebf over period of 2 weeks. We were lucky it all went well. Definitely see if u can get a lactation consultant to support and guide u. Wishing u lots to of luck x

My baby is 8 months and also still trying she has latched a many times in the past but didn’t breastfeed all the way. Then she stopped recently to take when I offer. However at bedtime this week she has gone on and even mini sucked but not all the way yet. So what now? I’ll continue to try only at bedtime and make a point of pumping f beforehand to express a bit.

This is a 6 year old zombie thread, you will get much better responses if you make your own thread.

I can’t even remembered what happened with my baby, I didn’t even realise this was my thread until I replied 😅 but I’m sure you will get some great replies if you make a new thread.