Baby keeps biting me!

[FolkyFoxFace]

I know I could post in Parenting but last week I accidentally posted here about weaning and got some amazing advice, so I hope you all don't mind me asking in this section again.

My son is nearly 7 months, has two bottom teeth that are through but still growing, and keeps biting me when I'm breastfeeding him. It is SO painful. The sad thing is he wants more but when I let him go back on he still does it so I give up on the feed.

It is agonising. It's so upsetting because he's screaming to feed from me but I just cannot let him bite me like that. I've tried Anbesol before a feed, shouting (because it really hurts and I can't help it) "No!", taking him off and not letting him try again. I don't know what to do?

We fought really hard to get to EBF so now I'm having to give bottles to get milk down him but he still just wants to be at the breast which I totally understand and I want the same thing, but he doesn't understand that he can't bite if he wants that. I am not ready to give up breastfeeding and neither is he. Last night he drew blood so I didn't let him re-latch and he screamed blue murder and refused a bottle for two hours. Even when I let him on the other boob he just sucked then bit!

Any advice at all would be welcome, I'm watching out for the bite before it starts but he still manages to do it. I'm a breastfeeding peer supporter so I feel like I should have my own ways of fixing this but none of them seem to be helping with this little vampire boy. He is particularly bitey! I'm really struggling and we're both upset, so I would really apparently your advice.

Have your finger right near his mouth ready to unlatch (popping your finger in his mouth) every time he goes to bite. Don't stop the breastfeeding. He's motivated to stop biting if you take him off every time and them pop him back on again.

Also, and this is hard, you need to not make a noise or get angry at him, otherwise he learns that this gets a response and he may think it's a game.

Also, nipple shields can help at this stage

@Boonlark

Have your finger right near his mouth ready to unlatch (popping your finger in his mouth) every time he goes to bite. Don't stop the breastfeeding. He's motivated to stop biting if you take him off every time and them pop him back on again.

Also, and this is hard, you need to not make a noise or get angry at him, otherwise he learns that this gets a response and he may think it's a game.

Thank you, this is really helpful. He likes to slide down on the nipple and hold it between his teeth - when I try to unlatch him he bites down harder. I do windy now you've said it if he's seeing it as a game.

Ooo, are nipple shields okay to use? I remember people saying it could mess up his latch but that was back at the beginning so I suppose it's different now? I think I'm going to order some now because that'd be really helpful.

That's supposed to be "think" not windy. 😂 He is windy though, haha!

Make sure you keep him pulled in close, can't bit with a mouth full. If he bites plonk him on the floor and ignore him for a bit. They like the shouting as its a reaction so try really hard not to give a reaction.

When he bites, pull him in as close as you can, he'll have to unlatch himself to get free (not as cruel as it sounds, I promise!). Say "no biting" and stop the feed for a short time, at this age 5-10 seconds would be long enough, then restart. Be consistent and he'll hopefully soon realise that biting = interrupted feed. Youngest DS was a biter and me suddenly squealing mid-feed made it all the funnier for him.

If he's an established feeder then nipple shields should be fine, and it'll help you heal up. Also lansinoh is fab for healing as are silk breast pads inside your normal ones

Mine often did this when a new tooth was about to pop through. He found it entertaining for a short while and then moved on. Maybe consider wearing some "breastfeeding jewellery" to keep him distracted from the biting.