Wiping BM from inside baby's mouth?

tikitomban

I was reading a baby book, and it said to wipe the inside of the baby's mouth after each feeding ... I hadn't been doing that, nor had I thought of it. Thoughts on this, and what are you doing?

NSL

Why on Earth would you do that?

tokenhoser

No, I'm not doing it. In theory, we're wiping out his gums with a washcloth during his bath. That's enough. I don't need one more thing to worry about at every feed - there are so many!

It is good to get into the habit of wiping gums occasionally, from a dental health perspective. It gets them used to you being in their mouth, and helps wipe away any accumulated bacteria.

AliandJimmy

I don't do this after each feeding but do take a wet washcloth and wipe daily.

Annie984

Really?  That's a new one for me.  I wouldn't worry about it. 

erinlovesdavid

There is a woman on my BMB who "cleans" her babies' mouths out with honey.

NSL

erinlovesdavid:

There is a woman on my BMB who "cleans" her babies' mouths out with honey.

Has she been told that honey is verboten for babies due to the risk of botulism?

erinlovesdavid

NSL:

erinlovesdavid:

There is a woman on my BMB who "cleans" her babies' mouths out with honey.

Has she been told that honey is verboten for babies due to the risk of botulism?

Haha, oh yes. But see, her mom did this for her and all her siblings, so it must be fine since none of them ever had a problem. She doesn't need the advice from a stranger (or her pediatrician) when it is her opinion that it is fine to use honey to clean her kids' mouths. 

vanfox

That's outdated advice. Doctors thought it would lead to bacteria growing in babies' mouths, but more research proved breastmilk is antimicrobial. Even once they have teeth you don't need to wipe their mouths after breastfeeding unless you do a bottle feed of EBM. Milk straight from the breast bypasses the teeth completely.

 That's why when archeologists look at the skulls of ancient children, their teeth are better than ours, even with all our dental advancements. All breastfeeding to form healthy palates and good alignment, and natural solids with no refined sugars, etc. that promote tooth decay. Also no sleeping with bottles/sippy cups of milk that might drip onto teeth and break them down.

ele617

I've never heard such a thing. As PP asked, why would one do that?