1 Y/o Crying During Breastfeeding - Teething?

Hi K.,

Teething can be very uncomfortable for children. My patients swear by Hyland's homeopathic teething tablets. You can also try the homeopathic teething gel. A homeopathic remedy Camomilla 30C may be really healpful as well.

Best wishes,
M..

M. Rosen, CHom
Certified Homeopath
www.masharosen.com

Hi K.,
Sounds like teething to me because sucking can cause the mouth to hurt more and we know how hard they suck during breastfeeding. I agree with trying a little numbing gel on a q-tip a few minutes before trying to nurse, just make sure you don't use too much as it can topically numb the throat and tongue. You may also try a little Tylenol. Make sure you are brushing those little teeth and try to eliminate unrestricted night feeding as this COULD contribute to early childhood caries. I know there is alot of articles that agree and disagree with this, but there has also been research done that says breastmilk is more cariogenic than cow's milk. I 100% support breastfeeding and did it myself, but still urge EVERYONE to stop any night feeding after about 9-12 months. (breast or bottle)
Sincerely,
L.

Have her checked for an ear infection, my daughter did that! It hurts to nurse with an ear infection so they pop off right away. If that's it, she'll be fine once that clears up! If it is the teeth, numb her up with something cold before nursing, maybe that will help? Good luck!
K.

I think you are right, teething pain definitely affects nursing patterns. We have good luck with Hyland's Teething tablets.

True self-weaning doesn't come until after eighteen months, anything sooner than that is considered a nursing strike and there are methods to deal with that. Check out the topic of self-weaning at www.kellymom.com :)

Also, if you have concerns about breastmilk & cavities, www.brianpalmerdds.com has some excellent information about breastfeeding and infant dental health.

Yikes! Crying and writhing in pain! That doesn't sound like any teething that my kids have experienced. I'd check with the doctor to see if it isn't something more serious.

But, if it is teething. Hyland Homeopathic Teething Tablets work wonders and works a little faster than Tylenol. If the teething comes on super strong, I'd space it out with Tylenol as well.

Hi, I would check to make sure she isn't sick first of all. And also ... are you eating anything spicy that may affect the milk??
Good Luck

Dear K.,
Take Sadie to the pediatrician. Have her ears, nose and throat checked. It's possible she has an ear infection or a sinus type infection due to teething.
Sucking may be clogging or unclogging her ears and she won't understand that. It will just make her unhappy.
Let us know!

Just an idea...
My daughter did this when she was coming down with the cocxsackie virus (aka hand, foot, mouth). She wouldn't nurse or eat for about two days, we actually ended up weaning her. She had sores in her mouth and it was really uncomfortable to eat or nurse.
Symptoms include, not eating or nursing, fever, and irritability, then about 24 hours later the blisters appear on the hands, feet, mouth, or diaper area. There is nothing the Dr. can do about it you have to wait about a week for it to go away. I hope this is not your problem, but your daughter is doing just what mine did, so I thought I would sugest it.

It does sound like it could be teething, but when my son was 11 months old he went through a similar thing. He wanted to nurse, but would immediatly pull off as soon as he tried. I was devistated!! It turned out he had hand, foot and mouth. I saw small blisters on his hands and feet, and took him to the doctor for confirmation.

I just wanted to mention this just in case it could be a possibility for you. His condition cleared up and he went back to nursing in 5 days. Meanwhile, I pumped and I also was able to get him to nurse when he was sleeping. He was in our bed and was in such a deep sleep that he latched on when I tried. Don't worry she will go back to nursing again!!

I'd be very interested in hearing what your doctor has to say about this. Like other moms who answered, I think Sadie may have some congestion and/or a possible sinus infection. My other thought is that she's getting far more active and is basically losing patience with either sitting still for meals or positioning herself for breastfeeding for any length of time, causing her to scream out. I both breast fed and gave bottles to my children. My husband and I decided together that we'd have our children off breast and bottles by their first birthdays. With most of our kids, it seemed as though the transition was rather natural at about that time, give or take a few weeks.

Love your sweet daughter through it and be sure to watch for other signs when she acts as though she's in pain. She may play with her ears, pull at her hair, or shake her head.

All the best to you! Please let us know the outcome!
D.

It definitely sounds like teething pain, which can really hurt if you are trying to eat because your cheeks, lips and tongue are constantly rubbing against the sore spots. Have you ever had a really bad canker sore or burned tongue/roof of your mouth? You certainly did not want to put anything in your mouth because it hurt too much. Multiply that by the number of teeth your daughter is getting in.

I am presuming that you've already tried the cold/frozen teethig rings. Try giving her frozen peas/corn/fruit (in net bag or cut up small) to chew on. Oragel works, but use just a small amount, as too much can upset the stomach. There is also infant Tylenol. Give it to her about 30 mins before a meal or nursing. If you plan to give Tylenol in the evening to help her get to sleep, give it to her two hours before bed time. This allows enough time for the pain to go away, and enough time for her to calm down before going to sleep. Check with her doctor for dosage. My 13 month old is getting four molars in at once, and she is NOT happy about it. Oragel and Tylenol are what have been working for me.

Hi K.,

I had this same problem when my daughter was teething. She was miserable when trying to nurse. I used Infant's Tylenol and Orajel (same as mentioned in the previous post). I also put wet washcloths in the freezer and let my daughter suck/chew on them for a few minutes before nursing. I think they sort of numbed her mouth and made breastfeeding more tolerable. It's not the best solution though, because as soon as her mouth would warm up, she would be in pain again, so I'd stop the nursing session, give her another frozen washcloth and resume nursing when her mouth was numb again. It was kind of a hassle, but it the teething doesn't last forever.

I'm wondering if it is her ears bothering her. Could you go for a quick ear check at your pediatrician? Sometimes babies with ear infections act this way too.

I seriously doubt she is trying to wean herself. Try giving her teathing tablets. My 1 year old did this a little also. I felt like sometimes I had to force her to eat. I think that part of it was that she didn't want to sit still and that her teeth were bugging her. Some things you just kind of wait out. Best of luck

Try putting oragel on her teeth a few minutes before nursing. Yes, I think it is the teeth. My daughter will hardly eat anything for a few days when she's getting a few teeth in.

Sounds like ear infection to me. Sucking makes bad ears hurt.
But teething is different for each child; some suffer more than others.
So do LOOK at her mouth/throat/gums for sore/red spots. The doc will do this at check up anyway (& ears), but never hurts to have a look with flashlight at home.
At a year, it may be time to move to/try sippy cup. Good luck.
Also, she will eat when she is hungry. If doc clears her healthwise, just offer the food, dont force it.

Since you say that she is also crying while eating solids, not just during nursing it may not be just teething. I'd check with your daughter's doc. She may be ill.