Struggle Is Real! How Do I Stop Baby From Biting My Nipple When Breastfeeding?

Moms who are new to breastfeeding probably dread the time when their baby starts teething — around four to seven months — because they think baby will start biting while they are nursing. But moms who are able to breastfeed properly should not feel teeth, even if baby has a lot of it, according to Kellymom.

The occasional bite is inevitable for some moms, however. Babies and toddlers usually do it when they are teething, are bored, or have a cold or ear infection (it’s hard for babies to swallow while breastfeeding if they have a blocked nose).

Mom Vanessa Mallorca, who is still on a breastfeeding journey with her three-year-old son, Shunvan, knows the struggle of baby biting all too well. In a viral Facebook post that has gotten over 4,000 shares and 800 comments, the mom of two shares a few tips on how to deal with the pain — and how to stop baby from doing it in the future. She gave SmartParenting.com.ph permission to post her essay in full below.

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Paano pigilan ang nipple biting ni baby?

A biting baby is a common problem for most breastfeeding moms. Kahit sinong nanay ata dumaan sa yugto na kinakagat sila ng anak nila. Oo, sobrang sakit. Mas masakit pa sa naranasan mo nung nag-break kayo ng jowa mo!

Kidding aside, nipple-biting is a serious concern for breastfeeding moms because it often becomes a reason to force-wean their baby. So, what do we do when our loving baby bites us?

Huwag mag-re-react kapag kinagat ka sa unang pagkakataon. Kapag nag-react ka, aakalain niya na okay lang ang ginawa niya at biro lang ito.

Sabihan ang bata na huwag mangangagat at ihinto muna ang pagpapasuso para alam niya na mali ang ginawa niya. Kahit baby lang sila, naiintindihan nila ang sinasabi ni mommy. Kailangang huwag ngingiti at tingnan sa mata kapag pinagsasabihan si baby ha? Kahit na di mo mapigilang ngumiti sa sobrang cute nila, pigilan mo.

Huwag sisigawan si baby kapag kinagat ka. Kapag ganito ang sitwasyon, maaaring matakot ang bata at hindi na sumuso sa'yo.

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Kapag kinagat ka at ayaw talagang bitawan, isubsob ng bahagya ang mukha ng bata sa suso para bumitaw siya.

Maaari ring ipasok ang hinliliit sa gilid ng bibig ni baby hanggang sa bumitaw siya sa pagsuso.

Kapag nasugatan naman ang nipple, lagyan lamang ng breastmilk at i-air dry. Dahil si baby ang nakasugat sa nipple, laway lang din ni baby ang makakapagpagaling sa sugat.

Kapag lumala ang sugat o nagkanana, ipatingin agad sa doktor para maresetahan ng tamang gamot o cream na pamahid para agarang gumaling ang sugat.

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Masakit talaga ang makagat at iyan ay pinagdadaanan ng lahat. Mahabang pasensya at sakripisyo lang talaga ang kailangan para malampasan ang yugtong ito ng pagpapasuso sa bata.

Sana huwag tayong huminto sa pagpapasuso dahil kinakagat tayo ni baby. May mga paraan naman para maiwasan ito at kung mangyari man ay mayroon namang solusyon dito.

Vanessa Mallorca is a stay-at-home mom of two and a blogger at “Mommy Van.” Although she was not able to breastfeed her firstborn, Edelvan, she promised that she would try it with her second child. Vanessa decided to blog about her breastfeeding journey to help moms like her who are struggling to nurse their babies.

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