My baby is biting my nipple!

My baby is biting while breastfeeding!

A common experience as your baby gets a little bit older is to receive a bite when a tooth has erupted unexpectedly, usually occurring around four to eight months of age.

There is no doubt that this can not only hurt but can be a very distressing situation. Be assured that this is a temporary hurdle, and it is more than possible to continue breastfeeding.

It’s reassuring to know that, from an anatomical point of view, a baby can’t bite if he is well latched. What usually happens is that babies will tend to bite at the beginning or the end of a feed. 

With this in mind, it’s a good idea to get right back to basics.

Do the things that you did when you were first learning to help your baby to latch at the breast. 

You’re probably at the stage where you don’t even have to think about latching, and your baby latches on himself.

Still, it’s useful at this stage to focus again on the big wide mouth before every feed to ensure that every feed is a good one, preventing your baby from being able to bite at the beginning of the feed.

Also, pay very close attention to your baby as the feed is progressing and watch out for any change of jaw movement. You know your baby very well by this stage.

If he is about to end the feed or pull off the breast, this is usually the time when a bite can occur.

Be prepared to unlatch by placing your smallest finger in the corner of his mouth to break the seal.

Another useful strategy is to delay bringing your baby to the breast if he seems disinterested in feeding. You may be used to bringing your baby to the breast for lots of different reasons, and that’s great, but during this biting stage, try to delay.

Also, if he gets sleepy, take him off the breast before he hangs around too long and bites at the end of that feed. 

Another important strategy that may not be so easy is to be as calm as you can, which can only be a positive thing. Praise your baby for each good feed, giving that positive reinforcement.

You may be wondering what to do if your baby does bite?  

As well as trying to remain calm, bring your baby in slightly closer to the breast. It will help him to unlatch as it’s challenging to coordinate staying attached while swallowing and breathing at the same time.

Some babies may take a little longer than others to get past this hurdle and to learn those lessons, but with persistence and determination, things will move forward.

If you have already sustained a bite, and this has caused trauma to your nipple, it can be distressing, and you may feel very apprehensive about offering that side to your baby again! 

Please be assured, however, that nipples heal well given the right circumstances.

Those circumstances involve getting a good latch – so pay close attention to that big wide mouth before latching. Try some other positions as well, and very soon, those nipples will heal up.

If you feel that the damage your baby has caused has brought you to a place where you just cannot face bringing your baby to that side, in this situation, it’s still possible to carry on with breastfeeding. 

Your body will continue to make milk on whichever side you feed on, and you can also express on the painful side regularly, preferably with an electric pump to maintain your supply. 

You may need to use hand expression in-between the regular expressions if you get uncomfortably full.

Express a minimal amount of milk until you feel comfortable, which will help to prevent a blocked milk duct.

Very soon, your baby will be able to come back to the breast again, and the pumping will give your nipple a chance to heal up.

If you have sustained damage to both nipples, it’s worth considering the hire of an excellent quality electric double pump to maintain supply for a couple of days. 

While an unusually extreme situation, and not particularly common, it can happen, and your pump will help you to go forward. 

Please be assured that this is a temporary situation, and babies learn fast, nipples heal, and you and your baby can continue to breastfeed.