learning to suck

[ssmehyl]

hey everybody. Bauer's now about 9 weeks out from his palate surgery. everything went wonderful. He's done fantastic in his recovery. We're now trying to use Nuby nipples that aren't quite cut as much to start figuring out how to suck. I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas to help this process. He's use to the nuby sippy with the grill and ventilator cut. thanks so much for all of your help.

[heather]

Eyson has used the Nuby since his palate surgery and he has done very well with it. He got his surgery at 13 months old and is now almost 19 months old. He just now got the hang of sucking from his sippy cup. He still has no clue how to actually work a straw. He bites on it and expects something to come out just like it does with his Nuby. I don't know that you can teach a child how to suck. It's a natural instinct that they are born with. Eyson just had to figure it out. It took a little bit but hes definitely got the hang of it now.

[Heide]

Hi, our feeding therapist recommended (1) milkshakes and a thick straw (Mc Ds does the trick with both) and filling up the straw with shake, holding you finger on the one end and then trying to suck it out (some will come out just from gravity) and (2) juice boxes if you limit the squeezing just to get it started. - good luck and congratulations on recovery. Heide