nipple biting during breastfeeding

Infants, toddler usually bite while breastfeeding for the sake of fun or for soothing when they are teething. Initially moms may find it cute because that naughty smile is just priceless but honestly in longer run, it can be very difficult to breastfeed if baby bites. I have come across some moms who wants to wean off breastfeeding because biting pain is unbearable. 

Here are few techniques that worked for me. 

1. When baby bites, don't smile, laugh or cry in pain otherwise it will become a game for them and children love playing games. Simply unlatch them and say a strict no.

2. They can bite if and only if latch is shallow. In deep latch baby can't bite so whenever child starts to loosen the latch, completely unlatch him and firmly say No.  This way child will understand in just couple of days that he will not get milk if he tries to do this. 

3. If baby is teething and biting for relief, massage his gums with clean damp cloth multiple times in a day preferably before feeding.

4. But if you are already in a bad position and nothing seems to work for you, consider using nipple shield for breastfeeding. 

I would like to repeat it again that please don't cry or make any sound when baby bites I know sometimes it can be unbearable but trust me it will solve your problem in just few days. If you get pain in nipple due to biting, apply nipcare ointment(easily available on medical shops) or moms co cream after each feeding.

My son is 19 months old now and I am still breastfeeding him and in this entire journey, he has bitten me few times. He tries to bite sometime but I am a smarter than him :P and don't give any reaction hence he has to leave the idea.