Once your baby begins to feel the pain of sharp teeth pushing their way up through his sensitive gums, breastfeeding can become quite unpleasant for you. To ease the pain, your baby will gum and gnaw on just about anything, including your nipple. With a bit of resolve and patience, you can teach your baby not to gum on your nipple during feedings. The process requires some preventative measures and some consequences when your baby bites down.
Step 1
Provide your baby with teething items throughout the day, and especially in the time leading up to feedings. Frozen or refrigerated teething rings work well.
Step 2
Massage your teething baby's gums gently for a few minutes prior to feeding to ease her pain and discomfort.
Step 3
Exclaim "No!" and pull away from your baby when he begins to gum your nipple. Doing so consistently a few times is sometimes enough to teach a baby not to gum during breastfeeding.
Step 4
Wait for your baby to unlatch from your nipple between suckling and biting if she continues gumming during feeding. Obstruct her access to your nipple by positioning a few fingers between your breast and her mouth. Make her wait a minute before allowing her to continue feeding. Repeat this consistently.
Step 5
Remove your baby from your nipple when he gums and lay him down if other efforts are unsuccessful within a few days. Make him wait 15 minutes before you resume feeding. This negative response should alter his behavior.
Step 6
Keep a written record of when your baby gums your nipple during feeding. Watch for a trend, such as gumming when she's very hungry or when she's satisfied. Find ways to intervene if there's a particular trigger. For example, feed more often if it's hunger-related, or stop feeding a bit sooner if gumming stems from fullness.
Tips and Warnings
- If your baby clamps down on your nipple, ease your index finger into his mouth and gently pry it open. You can also press him against your breast, covering his nose so he must open his mouth to breathe, says "Parenting" magazine.
- Avoid over-the-counter gum numbing agents sold for teething babies, as their effectiveness and safety are unclear, cautions AskDrSears.com.
Things You'll Need
- Teething items
- Journal
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