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

Infant feeding

Help! 6mo has started biting nipples and it hurts. Scared I'll have to give up BF

13 replies

missbumpy · 02/05/2008 21:59

Tonight my 6mo who's teething (but doesn't actually have any teeth yet) started biting down on my nipple while feeding. She did it 3 times and each time I pulled away yelping in pain (amazing how hard she can bite without any teeth !). The 3rd time I shrieked so loudly it scared her and made her cry

I'm really worried about this new development. If she keeps on doing this at every feed I think I'll have to stop bfing and I wasn't planning to stop yet. I don't even know how I'd stop. Can you just stop all of a sudden? I wouldn't know how much formula to give or anything.

Sorry for rant...over-tired and stressed and now worried that I'm going to have to stop bfing. Please help.

OP posts:

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policywonk · 02/05/2008 22:05

Ouchio. It really hurts.

Every time she does it - and really, EVERY time - gently take your nipple out, say 'No' quite firmly (but not shouty), and stop the feed. If you're feeling really stern you could put her down and refuse eye contact for a couple of minutes as well. The you can resume the feed (if you want to).

If you do this really consistently, and never let her get away with a bite, she should learn the rules pretty quickly.

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umberella · 02/05/2008 22:10

yikes, this is sore isn't it. DD has only done this twice and both times i yelped and she cried! I felt bad but at least she let go straight away.

it's not just the pain - it's the growling noise she makes as she does it

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CristinaTheAstonishing · 02/05/2008 22:14

DD1 did this but, thankfully, got over it within a couple of days. DD2 very ocasionally does it as well. It wasn't related to teething with them. It's v painful, also there's no warning and it HURTS.

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shouldbeworking · 02/05/2008 22:18

My ds2 used to do this with teeth!!!! I am afraid to say I perservered till he was 9 months and then decided I'd quite like my nipples where they are meant to be. He actually drew blood a couple of times!!!!
I'd try what policywonk suggests. Good luck

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missbumpy · 02/05/2008 22:20

Thanks. Glad to know I'm not the only one suffering with bitten nips!
I've just been crying on DPs shoulder. Really don't want to have to give up BFing all of a sudden like this so I'll try the being stern thing Policywonk suggested. Don't think I could put her down and not make eye contact though! I'm far too much of a softie.
Dread to think how much more it will hurt when the teeth finally make an appearance !

I'm off to bed. Hopefully things will look better in the morning and hopefully there won't be any more biting to contend with!

OP posts:

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fishie · 02/05/2008 22:25

she doesn't know about teeth, must feel odd i always think. advice here is v good.

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sparklyshoos · 02/05/2008 22:29

ouch, i went through this, not much fun at the time, but they do move on from it.
jingle boobs feeding necklace can help, gives them something to distract them whilst they feed. - I got one off the internet, if you google, you'll see loads of links prob.

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verylittlecarrot · 02/05/2008 22:36

Me too

I'm still working on sorting it out...

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Tommy · 02/05/2008 22:36

agree it is a phase - DS3 did it for a while but mostly doesn't anymore. It is bloody painful though. DS2 did it and drew blood once - I got very upset - not just because it hurt like hell - but I was worried I would have to give up but it soon passed and I carried on for abpout 6 more months IIRC

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Tommy · 02/05/2008 22:38

the othern thing you can do (was suggested when I asked about it here!) is to draw them in closer which means the have to take the mouth off a little bit so they can breathe (I think!). Anyway - it was the opposite of you would instinctively do (i.e. push them away)

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anitaj1982 · 03/05/2008 03:03

had same problem with dd, try some teething gel or ashton and parsons teething powder before feeding, worked a treat for me, and stopped as soon as teeth came through

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squanderedzeitgeist · 03/05/2008 03:17

Had a few bites from dd when she was around the same age, also with teeth and she drew blood too(now still bfeeding at nearly 24 months) and screamed with the pain, could not help but do so! But she got to realise (mainly from the involuntary screaming!) that this was not a good thing to do. Did the removing from the breast and no eyecontact too. Will pass - no reason to give up bfeeding

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missbumpy · 03/05/2008 11:13

Thanks everyone. Thankfully she seemed to unlearn her new trick in the night as she didn't bite this morning. I'm going to keep a close eye on it though and try to get her off before she really chomps down if she does it again. I'm just going to watch that she's actually sucking and swallowing.
Thanks MNers for keeping me sane