Feed Better. Feel Better.®

No Shame. No Blame.
Just help for latching and feeding problems.

Feed Better. Feel Better.®

Real help for
latching and feeding challenges.

Feed Better. Feel Better.®

No Shame. No Blame.
Just help for latching and feeding problems.

Feed Better. Feel Better.®

No Shame. No Blame.
Just help for your feeding problems.  

bottle & formula feeding expanded access latching help reflexes and development

Baby Won't Open Wide? Get the Gaping Reflex Back On Track

How to help baby open wide before latching using gaping reflex chin cue demonstration

Trying to help your baby open their mouth wider—whether for the bottle or the breast or chest? It’s not just luck. It’s a reflex—and one that can be cued, strengthened, and brought back online if it’s gone quiet.

In this post, I’ll show you what the gaping reflex looks like, how to invite it gently, and how to rebuild it over time. This isn’t about forcing anything—it’s about helping your baby reconnect with something their body already knows how to do.

Just a quick note: Some of the videos in this post focus on latching at the chest, but the same reflex applies during bottle feeds too.

Babies are born with these reflexes—and they matter no matter how your baby is feeding.

 

...

This deeper dive is part ofNourished Young’s Expanded Access ✨

🔓 Want the Full Blog? Grab your pass to unlock the full blog and keep exploring. 

Already have access? Log in here.

Expand Your Access

Anything you'd like to add? 

I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, questions, or experiences below.

Have a question for me?

Click here for the link + a reminder to join me live this Tuesday at 11:00 AM ET
Or, fill out the form below, and I'll let you know when new resources drop — and you can tell me what support would help the most.

Meet Avery. The voice behind Nourished Young.

Hi there! I’m an IBCLC and educator with over twenty-five years of experience supporting families.

I built this space to share the kind of guidance I wish I had as a new parent—answers grounded in real-world experience, not guesswork. The kind that reflect real babies, real bodies, and the real challenges that don’t always fit the textbook. 

Because when you understand why something is happening, it’s so much easier to feel confident about what to do next.

Learn more about my story right here.