Q&A: Is non-nutritive nursing ok?

by Dr. Karen Sadler

My baby was born 13 weeks early, and is now a healthy, happy five-month-old. When he was in the hospital I breastfed as long as I could but my milk dried up. Now my baby loves to be at the breast, and he non-nutritive breastfeeds once a day. Is this an acceptable form of bonding -- even if he is bottle-feeding -- to suckle at the breast? I just want to make him happy and he seems to take comfort in this. Is there anything wrong with continuing?

No, nothing wrong at all!

As long as your baby is getting the calories he needs to grow, then this type of non-nutritive sucking provides warmth, closeness and is probably a lot more fun for him than a pacifier!

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