Why does the child bite the breast and what to do?

The baby bites the breast - this is a common reason for appealing to the doctor, which causes many mothers to think about stopping breastfeeding. But in fact, the benefits of breast milk is very high, and this problem is not so great as to stop breastfeeding. So first you need to understand the reasons and ways to prevent this problem.

Why does the baby bite the breast?

The baby bites the breast when the mother feeds it, during the first teething. Many mothers think that it was during this period that it was time to wean the baby from the breast. But it is not so. After all, the benefits of breastfeeding are undeniable, and the baby should be breast-fed for up to a year, and according to some recommendations, up to two years. Therefore, you can not immediately wean the child from the breast, but you first need to make sure why this happens.

Why does the baby bite the breast when feeding? The main reason is the appearance of the first milk teeth, which leads to severe itching of the gums during this. It often begins to manifest when the baby turns six months old, and he wants to scratch the place where his first teeth will appear. If a child eats correctly and effectively, while completely grasping the nipple and properly placing it in the baby's mouth, then he should not bite the breast. It is physically impossible at the same time that the infant drinks milk and at the same time bites at the same time, because at that moment a large tongue closes the child's teeth and does not allow any extra jaw movements. Since physically in the process of breast sucking a child can not be bitten, it already happens after he ate. This should be taken into account when you begin to wean the child from this bad habit. But it often happens that a child at 7, 8, 9, 10 months bites his breast severely. Why is this happening? Each mother in the education of the child begins to shape his character from a very early age. This is what happens in this case. When a child only begins to bite after feeding, then at this point you need to begin to wean him from it. If the mother allows the child to do this, then he will continue to do so until the year is reached.

Often children begin to bite at the end of feeding when they begin to fall asleep. Watch for when the movements of the jaw slow and loosen, and then you can stop feeding until the baby falls asleep.

Often difficult nasal breathing, a cold or ear inflammation makes feeding difficult, and can be a prerequisite for various feeding disorders. Try to keep the child in a comfortable position and periodically give him time to catch his breath to get air.

Thus, the main reason that the baby starts to bite the breast is a teething, but this is not a necessity, but rather a bad habit, from which the baby can be immediately weaned.

How to disaccustom a child to bite the breast?

Many mothers faced such a problem and continued to give their children the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding for several weeks, months and even years after that.

All children are different, so you may need several different approaches that will be effective with your baby. What will help to wean the baby to bite the breast will directly depend on what kind of upbringing you formed with him up to this point. After all, your words and references to the child should be clear, so that he understands the seriousness of your tone.

The child often bites the breast at the end of the feeding session, which clearly indicates that he is already full and just starts playing with his mother, demanding her attention. Therefore, having noticed this several times in a row, you can take the baby from your breast at once, as he ate and had not yet had time to bite. Another method is to give the child before each feeding a special cooling toy that helps with teething. This will relieve swelling and the child will be able to eat normally.

Read also an article about what to do if a child's teeth are chopped.

If the child bites, do not shout. Sometimes, naturally, it is impossible not to scream from pain. Sometimes a cry tells the child that it's wrong to do it, but some children think that it's so funny that they do not stop this activity.

Use praise after every successful feeding. Even the youngest children can learn how to breastfeed properly when their mother encourages them.

What if the baby bites the breast? A very effective means is a calm cessation of feeding, which will give the child to understand that he can not be so eat.

In a few minutes you can repeat the attempt to feed and observe the reaction of the baby. If he again tries to bite, then again you have to let him know that this is not a method of feeding. If your child continues to bite, put it on the floor for a short time right after it bites, as a punishment.

When a child bites very hard, and you can not force him to let go, then in no case can not pull, as this will increase pain. You can put your finger in your mouth at this time so that you can take your chest without much pain. If this method does not help, you can easily cover his nose, and he will let go of his chest for normal breathing.

The main thing is to form a concept in the child, which he must understand, because it hurts my mother. You can not shout or scold him. After all, this is your baby, who can understand everything at any age, only if it is correctly explained.

When a child begins to bite the breast during teething, it often causes a lot of unpleasant feelings in the mother. The main reason for this is the itching and pain of the gums, which should be taken into account and give the child appropriate cooling toys for the gums. It is necessary to loosen a child from this habit immediately after its manifestation, then you will form a concept for the baby that it can not be done this way.