If you’re concerned about biting and wondering if you should wean when your baby starts teething, don’t despair. Not all babies bite and most who try it once usually never do it again.
Simply put, breast milk is more than just a meal, it’s liquid gold. It is too valuable to give up too early. Breast milk is easily digestible, and it contains all the nutrients a baby needs as well as antibodies and immune properties to prevent infections and illness.
Weaning is rarely the answer when a baby bites. There are certain tricks to help you armor up against accidental bites.
Here’s few things to try;
- Review how your baby latches and make sure he has a deep latch.
- If he’s teething make sure you offer a teething toy or something cold to bite between feeds.
- Try and watch for a hint that your baby is about to bite and distract him when you feel his jaws clenching.
- But NEVER scream or yell. Many babies are so scared of yelling that they go on a nursing strike.
And you can be rest assured that it’s physically impossible for baby to nurse and bite at the same time, because the tongue covers the bottom teeth/gum when baby is nursing.
