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<h1>Breastfeeding - www.breastfeeding.org.nz</h1>

Biting


What can I do if my baby bites when I'm breastfeeding?


If a baby clamps down on the nipple and ‘bites’ when at the breast there are usually signs and behaviours before the ‘bite’ that a mother can watch for which will help avoid or reduce the problem. Not all babies bite the nipple and this behaviour is not always associated with the baby developing teeth. Babies with teeth can breastfed without biting or causing any damage to the nipple at all.

If the baby is latched on the breast correctly they are unable to bite as the tongue is well over the bottom gum and over any teeth that may have erupted through the gum.

Reasons why a baby might bite


  • Babies may develop a biting behaviour at the end of the feed when they have finished feeding and are not actively drinking milk or sucking. Mothers have reported that babies have bitten them when they have not been paying them enough attention to the baby towards the end of a feed.
  • If the milk is slow to let down a baby may bite to encourage the flow – a painful bite does not encourage a relaxed let down of milk of course but the baby doesn’t know this. Expressing a little milk before the baby latches can eliminate the period without milk flow and stop this problem. Obviously this is an early part of the feed problem and most biting behaviours occur at the end of a breastfeed.

Watch for pre-biting signs


If a baby has bitten the nipple once it is a good idea to start watching the baby for pre-biting signs which may include a change in the tension of the jaw and a sensation that the baby is pulling the tongue back into the mouth and away from the nipple. Some mothers report that a baby gets a certain look in their eye and they sense that they are about to bite. Sometimes the baby will start playing at the breast without any sucking and this may be a time to break the suction carefully and remove the baby from the breast. The baby can always be relatched at the breast if they give feeding cues again.

What to do if a baby bites


It may seem an impossible response to achieve but try to remove the baby quickly and calmly without yelling and screaming if possible. A loud and dramatic reaction may either, scare the baby and cause them to have anxiety about breastfeeding again, or it may cause amused delight and encourage a repeat performance to provoke the reaction again.

If the baby is teething give a teething toy or something safe, hard and cold to bite on. Try this immediately after a bite or a near bite.

More information



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Page last reviewed: 31 July 2008


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