How do you "fix" a toddler's latch?

[Halfasianmomma]

It seems like it's been ages since I worked on latch since DD was doing so well. Lately though, she's been very congested and her latch feels shallower. I only mind because my nipples are sore and it hurts to nurse again. Also, her 16 teeth sometimes catch my nipples.

Anyone have tips and tricks to help fix this latch problem? DD is 16 months old.

[waldorfknitmama]

I feel like am dealing with the same thing (or hormones stuff, see my post on nipple pain) Anyway, a good way to try to correct latch would be wait until she is drowsy or when she is asleep (like if you still night nurse) when they are sleeping most always they have better latch if you are dealing with latch issues during the day. It works best to not try to correct latch when she is super hungry or even crabby with little patience. You can also try when nursing to make sure the whole areola is in the mouth, I'm sure you already know that, but when she slides down to the tip simply take her off and try again until she get's it. If it's not working and she isn't latching correctly I'd say stop and what a while and provide a snack the last thing you need is a cracked nipple that can lead into an infecion.

[messy mama]

We're in the process of fixing DD's (17 months) latch. Right before she's about to latch on, I open my mouth wide and say, "Ahhhh" while trying to touch my tongue to my chin. Yes, it is quite attractive. At first, she just looked at me like I was a freak. Then she started laughing and smiling. Then eventually she started to open her mouth the same way.

I knew she would end up copying me, because before that she was saying, "Ow, ow, ow" every time she was about to latch on. She was copying me saying, "Ouch, ouch, ouch."

[lizvt]

My DS is 19mths and his latch got really lazy in the past few months. He was not opening his mouth very wide and kept sinking his teeth in (not really biting) ahhh owwww (which is also what he usually says when he sees my nipple now). I've been telling him "big mouth" and opening my mouth really wide. He goes for it and his latch has been much better

[lucifugous]

My 15 mo got a little lazy with her latch recently and I felt like she's old enough to grab it, how will I ever fix it.. but in the end it worked just like with a newborn, I guess. I sort of held it away from her for a moment, usually demonstrating the wide open mouth. Most importantly, I sandwiched the nipple a little bit, which was remarkably easy to do with the skin accustomed to nursing. After doing this most of the times we nursed for just a couple days, she was eager to get a real mouthful on her own after that. I suppose she realized it was more effective at drawing out the milk. I continued to do the sandwiching to reinforce the better latch, daily then less often. Hope that helps!!!

[hrsmom]

So if they go for a less shallow latch, the nipples won't be as sore? Right now my LO leaves teeth marks right at the base of my nipple, and both of them are quite sore! She only does this when teething, and now she's teething.