How to get a toddler to stop pinching while nursing
Toddlers often pull the opposite nipple or pick at the navel during breastfeeding because their hands need a distraction while nursing. Slapping their hand does not stop the behavior, leaving parents frustrated and uncomfortable. Providing an alternative tactile object or gently redirecting their hands can help curb this habit.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Slapping the child's hand
- 2Covering up the other side and making the nipple inaccessible in the bra
- 3Saying 'no we don't do that' and moving their hand
- 4Giving a warning and unlatching them if they continue
- 5Jamming a small stuffed toy into their hand to keep it occupied
- 6Unlatching them and walking away for a minute or so every time
- 7Providing chew necklaces and squeezing toys for sensory input
- 8Biting the child back slightly to show them how it feels
- 9Pretending it hurts intensely to elicit an emotional reaction
- 10Telling the child no biting
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My 3 yr has started biting since we switched to a new school. It’s getting really bad. Almost 2-3 times a week I get a call. It’s a really nice Montessori school and I am scared he’s going to be kicked out.”source ↗
“I’m at a loss of how to get him to stop biting. Please tell me someone else had a biter and how they stopped the behavior.”source ↗
“He’s got chew necklaces, a bunny to squeeze and he’s still chomping away.”source ↗
“everytime he breastfeeds he likes to pull my nipple on the other side or pick my navel. I don’t like it at all and often I slap his hand but he will end up doing it again.”source ↗
Where this came up
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