Why Babies Bite When Breastfeeding and How to Prevent It? Sometimes babies bite when breastfeeding, which is quite natural. In our article, we listed 7 reasons for that and explained how to prevent it.
It’s not rare for babies to bite while breastfeeding, and it might start as soon as they’re born. However, it can cause a lot of pain for mothers since it causes swollen, bruised and bleeding nipples in the long-term.
When your baby bites, you don’t necessarily have to avoid breastfeeding. The impulse to bite typically only lasts for a few days, so you may consciously keep the baby from biting. Here are 7 reasons babies are biting during breastfeeding and some useful tips on preventing that.
1- Your Baby Might Be Distracted
Suckling is an ability that your infant must learn to survive, and it requires a bit of concentration. Your infant will be looking and rooting as you rub his or her cheek with your nipple. Don’t do something that suggests a search until the nipple is in your baby’s mouth.
Basically, it would be best if you warned the kid that it’s time to eat. You might be distracting the baby if you rub it incorrectly. When your baby is distracted, it can turn its head, tug, pull your nipple, and even bite or gum your nipple if it doesn’t have teeth yet.
How to prevent this: Allow your child to focus on what it’s doing. If you want to bond with your infant while you feed, try to avoid touching him/her; instead, speak to your baby with calming words. Keep your cool, be peaceful and avoid doing activities that might be inappropriate while feeding your baby.
2- The Baby Might Be Uncomfortable With the Milk Supply
The milk production for the majority of mothers often fluctuates. There are plenty of reasons why your milk production might be decreased. This can include blocked ducts, mastitis, fatigue, or the return of the mother’s period.
How to prevent this: If you have blocked ducts or mastitis, seek care from a lactation consultant or a specialist. Don’t panic if your cycle has just returned; after a week, your supply should return to normal.
3- Your Baby’s Teeth are Coming In
Teething will irritate your baby’s gums, causing it to bite to soothe itself and relieve the pain. It might occur any time between the ages of 5 months and 2 years, and it will last until the baby has all of its teeth.
How to prevent this: If your infant is chewing his/her gums, it might be a smart idea to bring an end to the breastfeeding session and take a break. Detach the baby adequately without frightening it. Instead, give it a cold towel or a teething toy and let it know that mommy is not for biting. You might also consider using a teething gel.
4- Try to Pull Your Sleeping Baby Off
Imagine being soundly asleep until you are abruptly awoken from your slumber. When you want to unlatch your sleeping baby by yanking it backwards, it might cause some inconvenient moments. The baby is used to sleeping on your breast, but if you unexpectedly remove it, your infant will clamp tight on your nipple, as this is a normal reaction.
How to prevent this: Tickle your baby’s chin while it’s sleeping on your breast. If he/she still doesn’t let go of the breast, slip one finger between the gums in the corner of its mouth. Rather than yanking him/her off forcefully, gently loosen the suction on your nipple with your finger.
5- The Baby is Being Playful
If biting while breastfeeding elicits a powerful response from you, they’ll most likely want to repeat the result. This means that they will grin and gaze at you with their cheeky eyes, wanting to repeat the outcome. Of course, they don’t want to hurt you; they just don’t realize why it’s wrong to bite you.
How to prevent this: It’s critical not to overreact and give your child the “loud response” it craves. Even worse, if you respond that way, the infant can become so startled that it refuses to eat. Instead, try telling it a firm no. Of course, you should never resort to doing anything physical to stop the baby; just keep it cool, and the baby will understand you.
6- Your Baby is In an Uncomfortable Position
While breastfeeding, your baby may be placed in an incommodious position, which won’t let it be at peace. This can often result in it biting your nipple and causing you pain.
If they are not positioned for suckling adequately, they can easily forget that they have their mother’s breast in their mouth. Moreover, the baby might turn to look at anything with your nipple in its mouth, hurting you without realizing it. When the baby’s jaws close, this may result in a small injury to your nipple.
How to prevent this: Mothers should learn how to place their babies and prepare them for nursing properly. If the baby is placed incorrectly when breastfeeding, it will irritate and cause the baby to bite the mother’s breast.
7- The Baby Might Have an Infection or a Cold
Ear infections and flu-like symptoms can cause difficulty in swallowing and sucking, as well as chewing. When babies feel unwell, they might show unease. This could manifest in many ways, including crying, screaming, or simply baby biting breastfeeding. Although they’re not consciously aware of it, they do it as a sign to show that something is wrong. If you suspect the baby may have an infection or a cold, consider visiting the doctor.
How to prevent this: Consult a pediatrician if you suspect a cold or infection as the cause of the biting. If the causes appear to be insufficient milk production, strong letdown or poor latch, it might be a good idea to see a doctor or a lactation consultant.
Conclusion
Many new mothers know that the baby biting the nipple while breastfeeding can be somewhat painful. Moreover, the process can often cause soreness and discomfort. It usually doesn’t cause any direct damage to the nipple, but it might be quite uncomfortable both for you and the baby.
For many mothers, the proper use of silver nipple cups has proven to be crucial to protect themselves while breastfeeding. These small gadgets relieve the nipple from most injuries like bites, so consider giving them a chance before consulting a professional.
Although baby biting breastfeeding can be painful and inconvenient for mothers, it is mostly unavoidable. Breastfeeding may cause you many pain and problems, but the result will undoubtedly be rewarding for both you and your child. After all, the breastfeeding process builds a strong mother-child bond that only becomes stronger with proper parenting.