Breastfeeding a baby is one of the greatest joys of motherhood. At first, breastfeeding takes a little time to become accustomed but the bond is a lifetime experience. Everything goes along just fine for the first three to four months but then you begin to notice the breastfeeding process becomes a little uncomfortable. While it may not dawn on you immediately, you will soon begin to realize that the problem could be a teething baby.
While not common, bites have occurred by a teething baby during a breastfeeding meal. However, babies who are teething naturally know how to latch on properly so bites rarely occur. Even so, some mothers find that breastfeeding during teething is difficult, choosing to make this a time when they switch to bottle-feeding. The thing to remember is that each mother and baby interaction is unique. Therefore, while you can have this situation tucked away in the back of your mind, I would not spend too much time stressing about the “what ifs”.
In addition to breastfeeding possibly becoming uncomfortable for mom, it can also be a time when the baby has a difficult time. For instance, if his or her gums are sore and swollen, sucking may be a challenge or even too painful. In this case, allow your baby a few days to get over the hurdle before making any major or permanent changes. You might offer a bottle with a soft nipple for this time. Simply use a breast pump so the baby is still being fed breast milk. As the discomfort ceases, the baby will again want to latch onto mom.
What you want to watch for is the baby deciding the nipple is something on which to chew. Typically, a tiny bite is not too painful, giving you an opportunity to teach the baby this behavior is not acceptable. A firm but loving “no biting” should do the trick. If your baby is persistent, take him or her off the breast for a couple of hours to help get the message across. For stubborn babies, you may need to again pump out milk for a bottle for a few days and then return the baby to the breast.
Additionally, be sure you offer your baby items that are appropriate for teething, which will make the breast a less likely target. The bottom line is that for most babies, breastfeeding helps calm him/her down during this teething process.