So your baby is starting to teethe, but you want to continue nursing: now what?
Babies generally begin teething anywhere from 3-6 months (and it can vary even outside of that range). Regardless of whether your baby’s teething process includes biting at the breast, it can still be a particularly challenging phase to work through, especially in regards to breastfeeding.
To start, you may not even be 100 percent certain that your baby is teething in the first place: remember, baby’s teeth may be shifting underneath their gums for several months before a single tooth even emerges! Sometimes swollen gums can help you figure out the mystery, but other times you may have to rely on other signs, such as dribbling, mild fever, or a strong desire to chew and gnaw on things. This process can be extremely uncomfortable and sometimes painful for your baby, and breastfeeding may make it worse.
Here are a few things you can do if you’re still breastfeeding when your baby begins the teething process:
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Don’t panic. Although it may seem a little daunting, it really is possible to nurse a teething baby. Now is the time to re-engage with your little one and learn their cues all over again.
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Soothe their gums first. Massaging your baby’s gums with your finger or a frozen wet washcloth before you begin nursing may help to relieve some of their discomfort and help them latch more easily.
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Make popsicles out of breastmilk: Really! Use your pumped milk to make frozen “treats” that you can then use to both nourish and soothe your baby.
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Use ointment: The same ointment you would use for cracked or sore nipples can be used to help relieve pain caused by your baby’s teething.
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Shift positions: A different position may also help you and your baby to relieve some of the discomfort.
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Try hand expression: Getting your milk going a little bit before bringing baby to the breast can help them to latch more quickly and easily.
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Take a break: It’s always OK to take a breather. Don’t worry, your baby wants to eat just as much as you want them to! We promise they won’t starve, mama.
When your baby bites
A bite on the breast is not fun, but it doesn’t have to make you miserable or cause you to wean your baby before you’re ready. First, remember that they’re not doing it on purpose. They are usually just miserable and trying to relieve the pain by creating some pressure on the gums by biting down. Second, babies don’t bite when they are actively engaged in feeding. So paying close attention to them during the feeding process will help you anticipate when they may be about to clamp down. Signs can include holding their jaw, falling asleep, or suckling instead of actually nursing at the breast. If your baby does bite, remove them from the breast immediately. Help them to soothe their gums another way and then resume, or wait for a while and try again later.
Just like with anything else in parenting, it’s important to follow your instincts and your baby’s cues to help you through the sometimes challenging teething process. Enlist the help of your doctor or lactation specialist if you have questions or concerns or just need some support and reassurance.
And if you want to continue nourishing your baby with breastmilk without the discomfort, there’s always the option to provide the same natural nutrition via the bottle. Using pumped milk or reconstituted, freeze-dried breast milk from Bébé Bru is a super simple way for you and your support system to give your baby the best from the breast while they are going through the teething stage.
Click here to learn more about our incredible freeze-drying process and get started with Bébé Bru today!
