When Your Breastfeeding Baby Bites
You’re nursing your sweet baby when suddenly ouch!! She bites! What can a mom do to stop this from happening? Here are some neat breastfeeding tips for baby.
First, let’s determine why your baby is biting. The most likely cause is teething, but sometimes babies bite for different reasons, such a stuffy nose, boredom, getting distracted, poor latch, or to get your attention. While you may not be able to help but to yelp in pain, purposefully scolding your baby harshly for biting isn’t a good solution. It could cause her to feel scared and possibly avoid nursing.
Here are some ways to end the biting:
Change Positions
This is particularly helpful if your baby is biting due to a stuffy nose or cold. By holding baby more upright, it may help him breathe better and eliminate the biting.
End the Session and Put Her Down
As soon as baby bites, pull her off the breast and put her down. Be firm so that she understands that biting means she gets put down, but do not be harsh or punitive. If she cries or gets upset, be empathetic and pick her up, saying, “Ready to try again? Don’t bite.”
Offer a Teething Ring
If your baby is teething and this is the reason for biting, immediately remove him from the breast and offer a teething ring. You might say, “This is for biting, not mommy.”
Keep a Finger Ready
If your baby bites and won’t let go, put your finger in the corner of his mouth and pry him off to end the session. Wait a few minutes before trying again.
Simply End the Feeding
By saying nothing and simply ending the feeding when your baby bites, he will begin to make the connection that biting equals no nursing.
Pull Baby Closer
For an alternative breastfeeding tip, pull her into the breast a little bit more than usual. She will need to open her mouth to breathe as her nose is partially blocked by your skin.
Let Baby Know it Hurts, but Gauge Reaction
More sensitive babies will be upset that they hurt you and this will deter them from biting. Other babies, however, may find your reaction amusing enough to want to see it again. Say “Ouch! That hurts!” and watch your baby’s reaction.
Give Full Attention While Nursing
For babies who bite to get your attention, proactively giving them your full attention during a nursing session will curb this behavior.
Nurse in a Quiet Room
Sometimes biting occurs when the baby is distracted. By nursing in a quiet area and keeping baby’s attention on you, distraction biting will end.
Check the Latch
Babies cannot breastfeed properly and bite at the same time. Ensure your baby is latched properly. If you feel the nipple slip toward the front of the mouth, he is likely finished feeding or sleepy. Go ahead and unlatch now to prevent biting.
Praise for Not Biting
If your baby has been in a biting phase and nurses without biting, offer praise. “Thank you for being gentle!”
Other than breastfeeding tips, are you having difficulty with your newborn? Check out "25 Ways to Bond with Your Newborn" to see if those tips can help!
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