One of the greatest fears that nursing mothers have is the fear of being bitten. While some breast-fed babies do occasionally bite, it is a fairly easy problem to deal with, and should not threaten the success of the breast-feeding relationship.
Instructions
- 1
Remove your baby from your breast gently, and say "Don't bite Mama!" or "Don't hurt Mommy!" Put him down gently or hand him to someone else, then wait a minute or so before you start to nurse again. This will teach your baby that when he bites, the milk goes away.
2Repeat this procedure as often as necessary to get the message across. If necessary, calm your baby down by giving him a finger to suck on before you try relatching him.
3Prevent biting that happens early in a feeding. Does your baby bite out of eagerness or frustration, while trying to get your milk to let down? If so, you may be able to stimulate letdown by massaging your breasts just before a feeding or laying a warm washcloth on them for a few minutes.
4Prevent biting that happens late in a feeding. Does your baby bite near the end of a nursing session, when he gets sleepy and his latch starts to slip? If so, you may want to unlatch him slightly earlier than usual, after he has had a good meal but before he drops off altogether.
5Work on your baby's latch. If he is very young, he may still be learning how to nurse properly. It is fairly easy to retrain a baby's latch just by positioning and repositioning him until he gets it right.
6Check his breathing. If a baby has a cold or stuffy nose, this can affect his latch and even cause him to bite unintentionally.
7Check for signs of teething. Many babies occasionally bite when they begin teething; if your baby's gums seem inflamed, or he has bright red cheeks, or he is drooling more than usual, he may be starting to get teeth.
8Offer your baby something else to chew on before nursing, and in between feedings. Teething rings, frozen washcloths, and even your finger can be good substitutes.
No comments:
Post a Comment