Biting While Nursing
Ugh, the dreaded biting while breastfeeding - just when you think you've gotten the hang of this breastfeeding thing, suddenly your baby is 5 months old and bites you out of nowhere! Biting while breastfeeding can be stressful and lead you to want to wean early.
But here is the good news: biting while breastfeeding is very normal and should resolve quickly, if you know how to respond. It is not a sign that your baby no longer likes breastfeeding and wants to wean. The first thing to do when your baby bites is to figure out why they are biting. Possible reasons may include:
Discomfort from teething
To slow the milk flow (often occurs in the first few 30 seconds of nursing when the faster milk flow starts)
Interested in the reaction from their caregiver
Frustration at a slow flow of milk
Distraction
Sickness
After you find out why your baby is biting, you can work to address the cause to prevent the biting in the first place. If it is discomfort from teething, remove from breast and offer a teething toy. If the flow is too fast, you can latch them on until the milk starts flowing faster than unlatch until it slows down. If the milk flow is slow, use gentle breast compression to speed up the flow. If your baby is distracted, you can wear a toy necklace that baby can play with while they nurse.
If you are not able to prevent the biting in the first place and it does happen, the MOST important thing to do when baby bites is to quickly break the suction by inserting a pinky into the corner of baby’s gums and remove them from the breast for a few minutes. Try to avoid a strong reaction (easier said than done, so don’t beat yourself up if this happens!) when baby bites as it can lead to a nursing strike if baby feels stressed. You can cuddle them and offer a teething toy instead. They will learn to associate that biting means no more milk. After a few minutes, you can allow them to relatch if they still seem hungry.
If you have tried these things and baby continues to bite, reach out to an IBCLC for support! If you would like to work with me, you can schedule an appointment here.