It’s every mother’s dream to see their baby grow up to be happy, healthy, and successful people. However, every mother-to-be and current moms will agree that taking care of a baby isn’t all laughs and joy. Taking care of a baby is especially difficult for moms. You have to put in the extra effort; you have to be vigilant, you have to go the extra mile, just for your baby.

As a mother, one of the things you need to do is breastfeed your baby. Experts will agree that breastfeeding is best for babies. There are countless benefits that you cannot get through formula feeding. You should always prioritize the best for your baby. However, there’s a thing every mom out there dreads when they breastfeed their babies: Teething.

Your baby can bite, tug, and pull which can cause pain. Sadly, a lot of mothers out there don’t put in much effort when it comes to breastfeeding their babies because of teething. Certified dental and medical groups like King Orthodontics agree that teething is a normal process of your baby growing up. Here are a few tips to make it more bearable when you breastfeed your teething baby.

Your Baby’s Latch matters

Most first time mothers forget that the latch your baby has on the part of your breast is important when breastfeeding. Small things such as proper positioning can do a lot of wonders when you want your breastfeeding sessions, pain-free.

A Baby is latched correctly on when their mouth is wide open, and your nipple is in the far end of their mouth. Do keep in mind that a baby may bite on reflex if they are getting sleepy. If you feel that your baby is sleeping farther away from you, try adjusting the baby’s position, being careful not to smother the baby with your chest.

Your Full Attention is needed

Mothers often do extra activities while breastfeeding their babies such as talking on the phone, watching tv, etc. Try to limit these activities and focus on your baby while breastfeeding. Try to engage your baby during breastfeeding by caressing them softly, singing to them in a soft voice, or just by talking to them.

Babies will know and bite you when your attention isn’t directed towards them. You can also try to adjust the surroundings by preventing any loud noises which can startle your baby. You can also dim the lights and cool the room before you start breastfeeding.

Check to see if they’re full

A baby is full when they stop sucking after a lengthy breastfeeding session. Another sign is when they begin to sleep or lose interest during lactation. When this happens, carefully pull your baby away from your breast.

Never forget to let your babies burp after every feeding. Burping helps them avoid aspiration which can harm your baby. Put a towel over your shoulder and hold your baby in a position that their chin is resting on your shoulder. The bottom of your baby should be held by your hand. Gently pat the baby’s back with your other hand until you hear your baby burp.

Never use a Topical Analgesic

Sadly, a lot of mothers apply topical analgesics to lessen the pain during breastfeeding. In under no circumstance should you do this when breastfeeding your baby. A lot of topical analgesics can cause serious harm to your baby which can result in permanent injuries or worse, death.

Even if a medication says it’s safe to use during breastfeeding a teething baby, you still shouldn’t use it because its ingredients may cause allergic reactions. Instead of using harmful chemicals, go for more safer alternatives like teethers.

Teething Soothers work like a charm

Believe it or not, you can give your babies teething soothers before you breastfeed them. Babies can safely chew on these soothers for a few minutes. There are rubber rings designed for babies who are teething that are readily available in the market.

Another alternative is letting your baby chew on a clean, wet cloth that’s been cooled in the freezer for a few minutes. You’ll immediately notice that your baby won’t bite much compared to when you weren’t using soothers.

Takeaway

Breastfeeding is indeed an essential part of being a mother. Using any other alternative just doesn’t give out the full benefits breastfeeding can bring towards your baby. Most of the time, mothers avoid breastfeeding because it’s painful especially when their baby is teething.

The following tips above can help you make your breastfeeding less and less painful. Remember, always go the extra mile for your baby, even if it means you have to go through a lot of difficulties. Getting to see them become happy, healthy, and all grown up is so worth it.