Biting down while sucking is usually a result of either reflex or
compensatory movements due to tongue instability.
Reflex:  when the tongue is not covering the lower alveolar ridge (gum),
and something touches it where the teeth are/will be, the phasic bite
reflex is initiated.  Look for tongue tie.

Compensatory:
1. low tone kids sometimes 'fix' (use excessive muscular force and
duration of contraction) their tongue or jaws in an effort to overcome
the tone problem, resulting in biting.
2.  a shallow latch will destabilize the tongue, causing compensatory
excessive compression of the nipple, which feels like biting.
3.  a tongue tie can cause any of the above, as well as prevent the
tongue from elevating against the breast, again leading the baby to
overuse compression with the jaw instead.
4.  a baby who is slipping off the breast due to a shallow latch will
use compression to try to stay on.  For #2-4, improve the latch, for #1,
improve the child's body positioning and stability, for reflex biting,
look for tongue tie or respiratory difficulty that might lead to tongue
retraction and address that.

I'm sure I posted on these issues in more detail, but never codified it
like this before.  Yo can always search the archives, I've had the same
email address for years!
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  New York City  mailto:[log in to unmask]

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