Breast Fed mom: How did you deal with breast feeding and baby teething?

Answer 1

OK hahahaha to the suggestion of giving a breastfed baby a bottle.

Some babies do not bite, some do. When they do bite it isn't like they are going to bite your nipple off or even draw blood. I am not saying that it doesn't hurt, because it does.

If a baby is latched properly they can not bite, that doesn't mean that you can catch them between when they unlatch and when they bite, but you can try. Mine now only really bites when he is bored and I am trying to get him to eat because a) we are going out to the park and it is too cold to breastfeed outside or b) I really want more sleep/lying in bed time.

You can try just taking the booby away and saying "all gone"(cheerfully) or you can say no gently. Or you can say no sternly like you really mean it. Depends on the temperament of your child.

When my baby got his first top two teeth and bottom teeth on the same day and his mouth was really sore he would bite down hard and then slowly pull my nipple out of his mouth and he would clamp so hard that it was impossible to get his mouth open. So for 4 days I waited until he was really, really hungry before I would feed him. No comfort nursing, no snuggling nursing (yes we still snuggled and I comforted him, but without the boob. No snacking either like he usually does. But for a couple of days to a week it won't kill them, they won't loose they trust in you, they won't hate you.)

The other thing is with sore gums and new teeth it may throw off their latch for a few days, this may result in very sore nipples. Pay attention to how they are feeding and try to make sure there is always the best latch possible and remember it will pass.

Some other hints:
Do give ice/frozen wash cloth before nursing if it seems that their mouth is too sore to nurse. (Like they put the nipple in their mouth and moan or cry instead of drinking)

Do NOT give any numbing agent before nursing such as ambesol, hylands, or clove oil.

Do the best you can, don't beat yourself up if you need to limit time at the breast because of sore nipples or limit the amount of feedings. So long as they are having enough wet diapers they are fine.

Remember it will pass. I find it only gets bad for 2-3 days at a time, once or twice.

Answer 2

Our toughest time was right before her first teeth finally came out - the teething process started about a mth or so before we could see a tooth breaking the surface. For at least a few wks I could tell a big diff. whenever she nursed during the day (at night she seemed to be too tired to really care), where she would turn her head and act like she didnt want to nurse, only to cry from what I was assuming was hunger. I've read it can hurt for them to nurse when they are teething, so rubbing something cold on their gums just before you nurse, or even rubbing your clean finger, is suppose to help with the pain. We got through it finally, and it didnt seem to be an issue with her other teeth.
Once your baby HAS teeth, that can be a bit scary if they bite. My girl bit me the first time when she was 7mths I think, I screamed, she then laughed... I put her down and had to walk away for a few minuted to regain my calm. I wont lie, it hurt like the dickens! They cant bite and nurse at the same time though, so it's likely at the end when they will bite if they so choose. By watching my daughter I can see when she's lost interest, and therefore I stop her before she might be tempted to bite down, or turn her head without opening her mouth which she is also fond of if I give her the chance.
It can be more difficult at times, but it's a phase and you can continue through teething just fine.

Answer 3

Keep going.

If the baby bites you during nursing, you have two options, depending on the baby's age.

1. Pull the baby closer immediately. This will usually make the baby unlatch, which they don't like.

2. Unlatch the baby, gently tell him or her no. Wait a minute and begin nursing again. You may have to repeat this many times until it clicks---biting = no milk.

Hope this helps!

(I'm a mom of six, currently nursing, and have survived teething nurslings)

Answer 4

I breast my son for 2 years. He only bit me one time and I tapped him on his mouth and said no. He didn't do it again. Now I'm not saying that will work for you but some kids tend to bite and some don't. Good luck!

Answer 5

What worked for us -

Offer something cold to chew on before nursing if needed - spoon kept in freezer, stalk of celery, ice cube in a baby safe feeder or tied in a baby sock.

Hyland's Teething Tablets - homeopathic - work to relieve teething pain but they DO NOT numb the mouth so they don't interfere with teething.

Answer 6

easily plainly like an ear an infection! My son did the comparable subject everytime he had one. It hurts rather undesirable to suck while they have one. it particularly is the only way we knew he had one bc he could cry everytime he sucked a bottle. bypass to scientific professional and have his ears checked. My son additionally has acid reflux ailment. there's a connection between the two easily. Your scientific professional can attempt for reflux to boot. Reflux, nonetheless, will save them wide awake at night and that they are going to via their legs interior the air once you lay them on their returned.

Answer 7

1.) Hope he doesn't bite
2.) Stop
3.) Get used to the pain
My 7 month old bites on occasion...it hurts so bad!!! My friend said her baby never bit....and in a magazine I read once that you can flip them on the cheek if they bite and tell them no...but my dr. said that isn't right because they don't know what they are doing??

Answer 8

Just try and cut back one the actual breastfeeding until the teeth are in. Try giving him a bottle of breastmilk once a day in exchange for actual breastfeeding.