Biting While Breastfeeding
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Here is what you will find when you look for information regarding your baby biting you while nursing:
Be sure not to giggle because your baby will think it’s a game.
Hug your baby close so she has to let go to breathe.
Gently poke your finger in his mouth and prop his mouth open.
Now please allow me - a seasoned breastfeeder - to interpret this sage advice.
Be sure not to giggle because your baby will think it’s a game. Translation: Try not to scream when your baby suddenly clamps down on your nipple. It’s going to surprise you and will probably hurt like crazy. You will rue the day you bragged about your baby’s early development of teeth. Optional: Try not to cry over the absurdity of your baby biting you after you’ve spent all this time nourishing her with your own body.
Hug your baby close so she has to let go to breathe. Translation: Hug your baby close and worry that you’re going to smother her to death because she still isn’t letting go. Pull her away and wonder why in the world biting you is more important to her than breathing. Frantically beg your baby, “Okay, let go already!”
Gently poke your finger in his mouth and prop his mouth open. Translation: Prepare to marvel at your baby’s amazing ability to stay clamped on your nipple even though you’re trying your best to pry his mouth open with your finger. Optional: Prepare to have your finger bitten.
If you only ever experience a little nibble from your baby while breastfeeding then you should consider yourself lucky. My boy bit me so hard that I would up with multiple breast infections and eventually had to wean him because I just couldn’t take it anymore. If you do find an effective way to get a baby to stop biting while nursing then please let me know. Personally, I never figured it out.
Sandy Mathews says...
I breast fed four, each until 3 yrs of age. The first time he/she bites, you pull away and say “No!”. Expect tears of rejection. The second time you pull away and say “No! No!” forcefully, expect more tears of rejection. The Third time, you pull away and say “No! No!”. and put the baby away from you (Bed, swing, siblings arms (NEVER daddy’s arms), etc) for several (5) mins. Repeat step 3 until the message is delivered.(It won’t take long).
This may sound cruel, believe me it is NOT!! You won’t have to repeat more than twice, babies are brilliant!!
Holly Tried It says...
I had the same response you did about the “try not to laugh” bit. Who could possibly laugh while a vice is clamped down on their nipple? Someone didn’t have a clue what a real bite was like when they wrote that. Just one more example of you can’t believe everything you read.
The finger technique worked well for me—well, sort of. My daughter got tired of me popping her off and simply refused to breastfeed for about a week. Then one morning she was really hungry and everything went well. Was it a permanent fix? I don’t know. I had to wean her because I needed to take medication that wasn’t recommended for use during breastfeeding.
Holly Tried Its last blog post..What’s going on in the brain during breastfeeding?