How to Stop Your Baby from Biting While Breastfeeding

Updated on Mar 23, 2022

Be Attentive While Breastfeeding:

While you’re breastfeeding, keep a close eye on your little one to prevent him from biting your breast. This way, you’ll be able to quickly take him off your breast as soon as he starts biting. Remember, the more attentive you’re during breastfeeding, the less likely your baby is to bite your breast.

Learn the Cues That Lead to Biting:

One of the main things that actuate babies to bite while nursing is boredom. A baby who is bored, full or distracted may bite as he is not thinking about his feeding and just wants to play around your breast. Learn to read your baby's signs of boredom and take him off, if needed. If you learn to anticipate it, you can prevent it!

Latch Your Baby on Properly:

A good latch plays a vital role in preventing baby from biting during breastfeeding. In fact, it’s nearly impossible for a baby to bite with the right latch. To get your baby properly latched on to your breast, always use a nursing pillow that is designed to lift your squirmy baby up in an ergonomic position and ensures a deep latch.

Stop Nursing:

Stopping the nursing session for a few minutes is probably the most effective way to teach your baby that biting is not acceptable during breastfeeding. Every time your baby bites, unlatch him by sliding a finger into the side of his mouth and do not offer him the breast for a short while. This lets the baby know that biting means the end of a nursing session.

Try Not to Yell at Your Baby:

Avoid screaming loudly as soon as your little one bites. Your intense reaction after a sudden bite may cause your baby to stop breastfeeding for the next couple of days. Also, your baby might mistake your screaming as a part of some game and may bite you again to enjoy the same reaction. So try to respond as calmly as you can when your baby does bite.

Offer Your Baby Something to Chew On:

While your baby is teething, try offering him something to chew on before or after feeds, like a pacifier or a teething necklace. Not only will this soothe your baby's sore gums, but also it will help you understand whether he wants to bite or just suck. Depending on your baby’s age, offer him a suitable alternative to bite.

Breastfeed Away From Distractions:

As mentioned above, babies often bite when they get distracted by what’s going on around them. Especially older babies are more sensitive to their surroundings. If your little one appears to be distracted by something, either go to a dark and quiet room or use a nursing cover to make sure he is relaxed and focusing solely on breastfeeding.

Pull the Baby Towards Your Breast:

As soon as your baby starts to bite you, pull him towards your breast to break the latch. Since this will make it difficult for the baby to breathe, he will be forced to release the nipple in order to open his mouth wide enough to breathe. Try this simple yet effective technique every time your little one bites you!

Massage Your Baby's Gums:

Giving your baby’s sore gums a gentle massage before feedings also minimizes the risk of nipple biting to a large extent. Massaging not only alleviates the pain caused by a new tooth but also improves the circulation of blood in the mouth to allow new teeth to easily push out of the gums. So before you start breastfeeding, try massaging your baby's gums using a chilled muslin cloth or clean finger.

9 Tips on How to Stop Your Baby from Biting While Breastfeeding