When your little one starts teething, it’s not just him who feels uncomfortable, but the mother can feel it too, you know. Babies who are just teething will usually bite their mother’s nipples when breastfeeding, causing the nipples to become sore and sore. To keep breastfeeding comfortable, try applying these 4 tips.
Generally, a baby’s first tooth grows when he is 6-12 months old. Usually, when a baby is teething, several symptoms appear, such as becoming more fussy, drooling or urinating frequently, having a mild fever, and liking to bite anything, from toys to his mother’s nipples while breastfeeding.
Tips for Breastfeeding Comfortably When Your Baby is Teething
In order to remain comfortable breastfeeding your little one, there are several things you can do, namely:
1. Give a teether before breastfeeding
One of the reasons your little one bites your breast is to reduce the pain and itching of his gums. By biting the teether before breastfeeding , the discomfort in your little one’s gums can be reduced so that he no longer bites your mother’s nipple while breastfeeding.
Generally, this teether is only given until the baby is 12 months old. However, if after 1 year your little one still looks uncomfortable due to teething, you should consult a doctor to determine whether your little one can still use a teether or whether he needs treatment.
2. Give a gum massage
Apart from using a teether , mothers can also gently massage the part of the gum where teeth are about to grow to relieve the pain. Usually, the first teeth to appear are the lower front teeth.
Give gentle massage and pressure to the gums. Mothers can massage directly with their fingers or use a soft, clean cloth soaked in water. Before massaging, make sure you have washed your hands.
3. Change breastfeeding position
Your little one could bite your mother’s nipple because it is not in the right position for sucking breast milk. If your nipples feel very sore or may be sore, try changing your breastfeeding position . Make sure the attachment of your little one’s mouth to your breast is correct and that your little one can be heard swallowing breast milk, not just tasting it.
4. Slip your fingers before biting
When breastfeeding, your little one’s tongue must stick to the nipple so that the milk can come out. In this position, the tongue will cover your little one’s lower teeth, so he cannot bite.
If your little one bites, you will feel him pulling his tongue back. At that time, you can put your little finger in your little one’s mouth, so that he doesn’t bite the nipple, but rather your finger.
Breastfeeding when your little one is teething can really make you sick and feel reluctant to breastfeed. However, don’t give up quickly, let alone get angry, Mom. However, breastfeeding is important to meet your little one’s nutritional needs and strengthen the emotional relationship between the mother and her.
To relieve pain and soreness in the nipples, mothers can apply breast milk to the nipples or apply moisturizer to the nipples when not breastfeeding. However, if sores on the nipples do not heal, become more painful, or symptoms of infection appear , you should immediately consult a doctor.
