Does a Toddler Nurse More When Teething?

Breastfeeding through toddler-hood requires a level of commitment from both you and your toddler. When your smooth breastfeeding routine is thrown for a loop during teething, it can cause frustration on both your parts. Teething is not a reason to stop breastfeeding though; if you stick to it during this sometimes painful experience, you can get your breastfeeding relationship back on track.

  1. More Nursing

    • The way your toddler reacts to the pain and discomfort of teething can change with each tooth. A toddler who sailed through breaking in her front teeth might be miserable during the teething for molars, and vice versa. Your toddler̵7;s reactions can even vary day to day. Dr. Sears reports that a toddler̵7;s reaction to teething can range from a nursing strike to wanting to constantly derive comfort from your breast. If your toddler wants to nurse constantly, try to accommodate her needs if possible, or find other ways of soothing her pain. If your toddler is on a nursing strike, continue to offer your breast, and find other ways to give her the benefits of breast milk through a cup or spoon.

    Keeping Your Supply

    • A toddler who is on a nursing strike might make for a very uncomfortable few days for you. If your toddler refuses to nurse, pump on a regular schedule to keep up your supply. You can either freeze the breast milk for future use or offer your expressed milk to your toddler in a cup, spoon or frozen popsicle.

    Offering Relief

    • There are several tricks you can try that might relieve some of your toddler's discomfort while nursing. Keep a supply of clean, damp washcloths in your fridge or freezer and offer one to your toddler before nursing to deaden the pain he is feeling. Frozen foods are also a helpful tool to relieve some discomfort; bananas, apples, bagels, teething biscuits and waffles offer some nutrition as well as comfort. Make sure you use large pieces of food and monitor your toddler̵7;s eating to limit the chance of choking. One thing you should not try, according to Dr. Sears, is a teething gel. The gels on the market today may totally numb your toddler̵7;s mouth, making it difficult to breastfeed. You can offer an over-the-counter pain relief liquid or tablet according to your pediatrician̵7;s recommended dosage.

    Biting

    • Biting is a common problem in nursing toddlers, according to both Dr. Sears and the Indian Health Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Biting might be a result of boredom, poor latching on, discomfort or distraction, or as a way to get attention. If your toddler seems more interested in using your nipple as a teething toy, remove her from the breast and firmly explain that biting is not nice. Offer a teething tool to relieve his discomfort and try again in about 30 minutes. Watch for signs of bitinglike tension in her jaw and unlatch her before she attempts to take a bite.

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