It doesn’t mean weaning or switching to bottles
Updated February 27th 2024
Fear not! Teething and biting does not mean the end of your breastfeeding relationship if you don’t want it to. It also doesn’t mean that you need to wean onto bottles (if you’re not already using them) though it may feel like that at first. Cutting teeth and breastfeeding can co-exist!
When does teething start?
You might start to notice sign of teething as early as 8-12 weeks. This does not mean they’re about to cut a tooth. The first two teeth that show up are the bottom two followed by the top two. You won’t actually see those bottom two teeth until much closer to 6 months.
Seeing your baby begin drooling, chewing more on their hands, on toys, or trying to stick things into their mouth can be signs of teething. As your baby is teething and around the time teeth start to cut through, you may notice their latch change. I’ve had many moms come to me worried as their baby now has a shallow latch.
If you notice your baby’s latch suddenly seems shallow and they happen to be teething, discomfort could be one cause. Often, putting gentle pressure on their gums (tracing where the teeth would grow in) can help soothe them prior to a feeding. Skin to skin time during these feedings can also be helpful. This releases oxytocin which is a natural pain reliever. Offering a cold washcloth (that has been dampened with breastmilk or water) to chew before feedings can also help get a deeper latch by reliving some pain. You also have the option of offering a teething toy before breastfeeding which you can keep in the fridge or freezer.
What if my baby bites?
First, don’t panic. When your little one begins cutting teeth and more likely after that first tooth grows in a little, it’s almost inevitable that he or she will bite. While this might sound terrifying, it’s normal baby behaviour and I’m here to help you navigate it.
Many babies and toddlers all over the word nurse long after their teeth come in. Some babies bite and some don’t. Your baby is learning what it’s like to have teeth so you can expect them to want to explore.
The biggest tip I can give you is to watch your baby’s body language. With my first son, when the flow of milk started to slow towards the end of a feeding, he would begin to chew and or bite. This is also true of all the clients I’ve supported through biting babies.
Babies cannot physically bite if they are drinking milk. This is because in order to feed at breast, a baby’s tongue needs to extend past their gum line (where teeth grow in), cup around the nipple, lift the nipple to the roof of their mouth and draw it to the back of their mouth. This means, if they are feeding, their tongue is over their gums/teeth and they physically cannot bite down. The biting down happens after they pull their tongue back. Most of the time, if your are watching your baby while they are nursing, you can see this shift happen and unlatch them before they bite.
Other techniques you can use:
I like to first try breast compressions when you see your baby’s swallowing start to slow down. In general this is an important practice in breastfeeding because it helps increase the flow of milk and can keep your baby drinking a little longer which helps them get more milk.
When swallows aren’t happening anymore, and before your baby has the chance to shallow their latch and bite, put your finger in the corner of their mouth to break the seal they have on the breast and unlatch them. Switch them to the other side if they usually nurse on both sides.
I have also found a calming nursing environment helpful for the families I work with. Distractions often amplify wanting to play at the breast rather than drink especially in babies older than 3 months where they are much more distracted at breast. The reality is this is not always possible especially if there’s older children in the home or you are not in your own space.
And if the bite happens…
If and when my baby bites, I unlatch them and follow it up with a gentle but firm “we don’t bite”. It’s important to talk to your baby. They will learn it’s not ok to bite but we need to be the teacher. Often if your baby gets a big reaction out of you, they may just do it again for the reaction. It’s incredibly difficult not to shout or yell when it happens but the more you can remain calm, the easier it will be to teach your baby not to bite again.
I also wanted to add that if you’re reading this and freaking out thinking a bite means they will break the skin and draw blood, that’s generally not the case. Yes, a bite will hurt but often they’re just exploring and your body will “sound the alarms” and stop the process before the skin is broken. That said, I have worked with moms after their baby did break the skin but there’s often other factors involved such as a shallow latch creating more difficulties. IF that happens to you, get an IBCLC to help you heal the wound and stop the bites from happening.
As for toddlers, when a full set of teeth have grown in, if they continue to have a good deep latch, you won’t feel their teeth.
And if none of that is working for you, reach out for support. Lactation consultants aren’t just for brand new babies. This message was from a client of mine who had an 8 month old who was always biting. The biting would cause a small wound that mom would need to heal while also nursing.
We put some plans in place for their unique breastfeeding relationship and she was able to continue nursing and prevent future biting.
If you need 1-1 support help with latching, painful breastfeeding, milk supply, plugged ducts, pumping or anything else related to feeding your baby I’m here to help you. You can click here to work with me.