How do I get my baby to stop pinching while breastfeeding?

Understanding the Behavior
Breastfeeding can be a beautiful bonding experience between a mother and her baby, but it can also come with its challenges. One common issue that many breastfeeding mothers face is their baby pinching during nursing. This behavior, while often surprising and uncomfortable, is typically a normal part of infant development. Babies explore their world through touch, and pinching can be a way for them to express affection or seek comfort while nursing.
Why Babies Pinch
Babies may pinch for several reasons. It could be a sign of affection, a way to feel secure, or simply a method of exploration. As they nurse, they might use their hands to grasp or pinch the breast or even the mother’s skin, which can be uncomfortable for the mother. This behavior is particularly common in older infants who are becoming more aware of their surroundings and their own physical capabilities.
Strategies to Mitigate Pinching
If you’re looking to reduce or stop this pinching behavior, there are several gentle techniques you can employ:
1. Redirect Their Hands: When you notice your baby starting to pinch, gently guide their hands away from your breast. You can offer them a soft toy or a cloth to hold instead. This redirection can help them focus on something else while nursing.
2. Use Gentle Distraction: Engage your baby with eye contact, smiles, or soft words while nursing. This can help keep their attention on you rather than their hands.
3. Establish Nursing Manners: As your baby grows, it’s important to teach them about gentle touch. You can say “gentle” in a calm voice when they pinch, reinforcing the idea that pinching is not acceptable.
4. Consider Clothing Choices: Some mothers find that wearing a nursing bra or top that is less accessible can help reduce pinching. This can make it more difficult for the baby to reach the breast while still allowing for comfortable nursing.
5. Create a Calm Environment: Sometimes, babies pinch when they are overstimulated or anxious. Ensuring a calm and quiet nursing environment can help your baby feel more secure and less likely to pinch.
6. Use Protective Gear: Some mothers have found success with products like mitten sleeves that prevent babies from pinching or scratching while nursing.
Conclusion
While pinching during breastfeeding can be a frustrating experience, understanding the reasons behind this behavior can help you address it effectively. By employing gentle redirection, teaching nursing manners, and creating a soothing environment, you can foster a more comfortable nursing experience for both you and your baby. Remember, this phase is often temporary, and with patience and consistency, you can help your little one learn more appropriate ways to express their affection while nursing.

How do I get my baby to latch without pinching?

Try to put your finger on her lower chin when she latches. This will help with getting more boob into her mouth if it is a shallow latch issue. Also, always be sure to aim your nipple to hit her soft palate on the roof of her mouth when she is latching.

Why does a baby keep unlatching and relatching?

They become faster at latching and gain more ease during the process allowing them to begin to nurse in many different positions. If your baby is not in a position to latch well, they may pop on and off trying to adjust their latch for more comfortable and effective milk removal.

How to fix a painful latch?

Signs that baby isn’t latching properly
If you feel nipple pain while nursing, something’s not right. This means your baby is likely chewing on your nipple instead of gumming the areola. The fix: Unlatch (break the suction by putting your finger into the corner of her mouth), and try again.

Why does my baby pinch my skin when feeding?

Its not just breastfeeding that this happens. Its part of infants learning how bodies and things work. Pinching, hitting, and biting are all developmentally normal things as they learn space and boundaries.

How do you teach a baby not to pinch?

Babies: handling biting, pinching and hair-pulling
For example, you can say, ‘No’. The next step is to remove your child’s hand (or mouth!) and turn away or put them down. When you do this, you take away attention from the behaviour. If your baby hits, bites or pulls your hair again, respond in the same way.

Is it normal to feel pinching while breastfeeding?

If your nipple is pinched, flat, or a different shape than usual after you breastfeed, you may need to adjust baby’s latch. Visit your WIC breastfeeding expert for help. If you are in pain while breastfeeding, gently break the latch by inserting a clean finger into the corner of your baby’s mouth. Then try again.

How to stop your baby from pinching while breastfeeding?

If you don’t like the behavior, give baby a toy or something else to hold while at the breast or cover the other breast with a blanket or your shirt. Wear a necklace or scarf they can play with. Sing a song or read them a book to distract them. Don’t be too quick to hide baby’s hands. They do serve a purpose.

What causes a pinching feeling in the breast?

This symptom may be cyclic or noncyclic. If the pain is cyclic, it is related to the fluctuating hormones of the menstrual cycle. Noncyclic breast pain can be due to PMS, fibrocystic breast changes, injuries and sprains, or inflammation around the ribs. Sometimes, cysts or infections are responsible for this symptom.

How to get a deeper latch when breastfeeding?

With your baby’s head tilted back and chin up, lift him or her to touch your nipple. The nipple should rest just above the baby’s upper lip. Wait for your baby to open very wide, then “scoop” the breast by placing the lower jaw on first. Now tip your baby’s head forward and place the upper jaw well behind your nipple.

How to teach baby not to pinch?

Babies: handling biting, pinching and hair-pulling
For example, you can say, ‘No’. The next step is to remove your child’s hand (or mouth!) and turn away or put them down. When you do this, you take away attention from the behaviour. If your baby hits, bites or pulls your hair again, respond in the same way.