My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

breastfeeding- VS- losing nipples

11 replies

BadgerBadger · 07/09/2005 01:18

DD2's just turned 1. She's got her two bottom teeth but now has a top one one the way. Today she has bitten me, hard, during each feed, she still demand feeds loads throughout the day.

Nothing has stopped her, from ignoring, removing, saying no, etc. It's agony!

Would you call it a day? Or risk losing your nipples?

(I had a friend who did lose a nipple when her baby bit her, so it is a serious Q.)

OP posts:
Report
NotQuiteCockney · 07/09/2005 06:33

Ack. DS1 once drew blood, my boob was bleeding for a little while.

I would:

  • stop the feed when she bites (duh) put her down in a cross way and leave her to howl for a minute or two. (Don't shriek when she bites, if you can stop yourself.)
  • watch out for the signs she's about to bite, and pull her off if I think she's about to bite.
  • consider pressing her into the boob very briefly when she bites. So she can't breathe. This is not a nice thing to do, but it works.
  • consider tailing back feeds. Stopping suddenly may cause you problems, anyway - I was in agony this weekend from not completely draining one side in the evening, and my baby's 11 months. Consider offering cow's milk during the day, and boob just at start and finish or something?
Report
pesme · 07/09/2005 07:53

hi my dd did this, she had teeth from about 5 months! it is horrible it felt like russian roulette when i went to feed her. she only did it when she was teething so i would try and give her a teething powder before a feed. i tried to follow the standard advice but tbh i just used to shriek and take her off the boob pronto. dd did get better and continued until about 15months when she decided to stop.

good luck

Report
Twiglett · 07/09/2005 08:40

can you not just feed her morning and night when she's a little more sleepy

during the day she can surely drink water or diluted juice when thirsty

Report
Twiglett · 07/09/2005 08:41

and did your friend really lose a nipple or is that an exaggeration for shock value (it worked )

Report
handlemecarefully · 07/09/2005 08:42

Badgerbadger - blimey at your friend!

Frankly I would stop....

Report
Lizzylou · 07/09/2005 08:44

I was a massive wuss and stopped breastfeeding at 6 1/2 mths as soon as I received my first bite...

I think I'd call it a day too TBH

Report
robinia · 07/09/2005 08:46

I stopped when my ds started biting - and that was at the evening feed when he was in theory more sleepy.

Report
BadgerBadger · 07/09/2005 11:31

Yes Twiglett, she certinlay did! Her baby was about 6 months at the time, needless to say, she did stop feeding. (I was when I heard!)

So far today she's only had one feed, no bite. I'm nervy now though, hence feeding's not that enjoyable.

I think I will encorage feeds to tail off, not refuse exactly, just keep her too occupied to notice

Thanks for all the advice! She seems to have honed this to a fine art though, no warning and a wicked little growl to accompany the bite, followed by fits of giggles!

TBH, I think the entertainment factor is so high for her, it would be nearly impossible to stop her from doing it, if she wanted to.

That said, even with a specific reason to stop, it's still not easy, is it?

OP posts:
Report
highlander · 07/09/2005 11:39

I went through exactly this when DS cut his top teeth. Agree with the othere re: stopping feeding without a reaction. I used to have a teething ring on hand as well. It stopped as soon as those teeth came through and he never did it again. It is soooooo miserable and I was very close to giving up - DS was only 6mo at the time.

at losing a nipple!

Report
Roxswood · 07/09/2005 19:33

It took me about a week to train my six month old not to bite, but she's now 14 months feeding happily and has never bitten since.
We had a couple of days of biting at every feed, I used to say NO firmly, take her straight off the breast place her on the floor and walk away.
I think after the first two days she only bit a few more times but it was about a week until she stopped completely.
I think if you're consistent most children can be taught that biting means losing the breast for a time.

Report
Mojomummy · 07/09/2005 19:56

similar happened to me & I was upset because I didn't want to stop. I had a look on the web & read that babies CAN'T bite if they are feeding - which makes sense. So that night, instead of surfing e-bay I kept my beady eye on DD. Immediately she stopped sucking, I stuck my finger between my nipple & her mouth & sat her up. DD was very surprised, indicated she wanted to feed so went back on again. Did this for the rest of the feed & for probably a couple of other nights & she never bit again & she fed until she was 2.
Perhaps the thought of losing food did it ? Perhaps it was just a phase. (BTW I had also screamed very loudly & shouted, something like, don't you ever do that again , which didn' make any difference !)

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.