How to Keep a Baby From Biting

Much to a mother's dismay, your baby starts biting during breastfeeding. There are three reasons that babies bite during breastfeeding. They bite because they are teething, because they are bored, or because they are playing. With patience and persistence, a baby can be taught to stop biting during breastfeeding.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine if your baby is teething. Babies bite when they are teething because the biting helps to soothe their sore gums. If your baby is teething, apply a numbing solution designed for teething babies such as Baby Orajel. If your baby is still biting after applying the numbing solution, give her a teething ring to chew on and soothe her gums. A teething ring that is cold from being placed in the refrigerator, provides extra soothing relief to her gums.

2. Determine if your baby is biting out of boredom or being playful. If your baby is not teething, then she is biting out of boredom or as a play behavior. A baby biting out of boredom, usually appears disinterested in breastfeeding and nurses without enthusiasm. A baby that is playing usually bites the hardest. A playful biting baby is viewing the nipple as a toy and does not realize that he is hurting you.

3. Stop breastfeeding the bored baby when she bites and participate in an interactive activity with her to help relieve her boredom.

4. Teach the playful biting baby not to bite by loudly saying (not yelling) "ouch" and discontinuing nursing for a minute. After a minute, attempt to breastfeed again. If your baby bites again, repeat the process again. This step may need to be repeated over and over again, until your baby understands that you will stop breastfeeding every time she bites.

5. Never yell at your baby for biting. She is not trying to be bad. She just does not understand the concept of hurting you. Following the above methods will teach your baby to stop biting. Be patient, it may take your baby days to realize that biting is unacceptable.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't give in to your baby's crying. You must be consistent and discontinue breastfeeding every time your baby bites.
• Only discontinue breastfeeding your baby for one minute when she bites. If you discontinue for longer, she will get too upset and fail to learn what you are trying to teach her.

[bfproblems]

on 10/10/2009 Biting during breastfeeding can also be a sign of tongue-tie. Moms should get baby checked out as tongue tie is not always seen, it might be a less severe tongue tie but will still cause problems when breastfeeding.