How to deal with teething while breastfeeding?

Navigating Teething While Breastfeeding: A Guide for Parents
Teething can be a challenging phase for both babies and parents, often marked by discomfort and fussiness. However, for breastfeeding mothers, the question arises: how does teething affect the nursing relationship? Fortunately, experts suggest that teething should not significantly disrupt breastfeeding, and there are effective strategies to manage this transition.
Understanding Teething
Most babies begin teething around six months of age, although the timeline can vary widely. Some infants may be born with teeth, while others might not see their first tooth until after their first birthday. As teeth begin to emerge, babies may experience sore gums, leading to increased irritability and a desire to chew on objects. This natural process can raise concerns for breastfeeding mothers, particularly regarding potential biting during nursing.
Maintaining the Nursing Relationship
Despite the challenges posed by teething, breastfeeding can continue smoothly. Many mothers report that their babies do not bite while nursing, even after teeth have come in. The key is to remain attentive to your baby’s cues. If you notice your baby fidgeting, shifting their tongue, or tightening their jaw, it may be a sign of discomfort or distraction. In such cases, gently unlatching your baby and offering a cold washcloth or a teething toy can provide relief.
Practical Tips for Comfort
To ease the teething process while breastfeeding, consider the following strategies:
1. Cold Relief: Offering a cold, wet washcloth or a chilled teething toy can soothe sore gums before or after nursing sessions. This not only helps alleviate discomfort but also distracts the baby from the teething pain.
2. Adjusting Positions: Experimenting with different breastfeeding positions can make a significant difference. Bringing your baby’s head and mouth closer to your breast can help prevent them from pulling on the areola, which may reduce discomfort for both mother and child.
3. Engagement and Distraction: Breastfeeding is not just about nourishment; it’s also a bonding experience. Engaging your baby with eye contact, singing, or offering a toy can help keep them calm and focused during nursing sessions.
4. Breast Milk Benefits: Interestingly, breast milk itself can be beneficial during teething. It contains properties that may help soothe discomfort, making breastfeeding a comforting option for teething babies.
Conclusion
While teething can introduce new challenges into the breastfeeding journey, it is important to remember that this phase is temporary. With a few adjustments and a keen awareness of your baby’s needs, you can continue to enjoy the nurturing bond that breastfeeding provides. Embrace this time as an opportunity to connect with your baby, and trust that both of you will navigate through teething together.

Can teething put baby off breastfeeding?

Can I Keep Breastfeeding once my Baby Begins Teething? Of course! Teething can present some new challenges but human milk continues to be the best food for your baby. Sometimes when the teeth are moving under the gums and as they pop through the gums, your baby may be uncomfortable and unhappy.

How do I stop my teething baby from biting while nursing?

If baby bites at the beginning of a nursing session, try giving him/her something cold/hard to chew on beforehand. If it’s at the end, pay close attention and break their latch as soon as they finish eating but before they are tempted to play with the new sensation of using their teeth.

Does teething cause difficulty in breastfeeding?

Pain or discomfort.
Teething, thrush or a cold sore can cause mouth pain during breastfeeding. An ear infection can cause pain during sucking or lying on one side. And an injury or soreness from a vaccination might cause discomfort in a certain breastfeeding position.

Can teething affect the latch?

How teething may affect breastfeeding. Latch: Sore or swollen gums, or the presence of new teeth at the front of your baby’s mouth, may affect the way that she latches on to breastfeed. You may find it helpful to experiment with different feeding positions to find one that is comfortable for both of you.

When is teething pain the worst?

Stage 5: (25-33 months) For some children, this is the most painful stage of teething. During this time, the large molars emerge. These are the biggest teeth, and parents may find their normal soothing techniques are no longer effective.

Do babies comfort nurse when teething?

For some little teethers, breastfeeding will soothe the pain and they’ll want to nurse all day, almost back to the newborn days. For others, the act of sucking may make the gums hurt more.

What helps teething pain while breastfeeding?

While nursing
If you sense your baby is slowing down his or her feeding, fidgeting, shifting the tongue, or tightening the jaw, unlatch your baby and offer him or her a cold washcloth or teething toy to relieve discomfort. After your baby has had a chance to bite or chew, try breastfeeding again.

How can I stop my teeth from hurting while breastfeeding?

If you’re breastfeeding, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen up to the daily maximum dose. However, if you can take less, that is recommended. You can also take naproxen to the daily maximum dose, but this medicine should only be taken for a short period of time.

How long does a teething nursing strike last?

Nursing strikes can be frightening and upsetting to both you and your baby, but they are almost always temporary. Most nursing strikes are over, with the baby back to breastfeeding, within two to four days. First thing to remember is to feed the baby. The other important thing is to protect your supply.

What is the 3 month breastfeeding crisis?

The third crisis occurs after three months, at this stage the baby has much greater suction strength and will take faster feedings as he is able to empty the breasts with greater speed, that is to say, take more in less time, this period coincides with the development of their hearing and vision, that makes everything …