Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Too scared to feed my baby

42 replies

Missmarple45 · 01/06/2019 16:53

My ds is 5.5months old, he's bit me a couple time but last night he bit me so hard it was so painful I am now scared to feed him-its ridiculous-but im so on edge feeding him now i dont know how to snap out of it, i don't want to stop breastfeeding, up until now I've loved it and am really struggling at the thought of not breastfeeding him anymore.
I know it's normal, and probably because he's teething and probably just a phase, I also know what to do if he bites etc etc but I need to shift this horrible anxious feeling I get now when I feed him and I need to stop feeling scared he's going to bite and just get on with it but I don't know how!?!

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 01/06/2019 17:02

There was a thread on this recently.

The general advice was unlatch him by pushing him towards you - it blocks his nose so he has to unlatch to breath.

Keep an eye on him. They rarely bite during the initial suck swallow phase, it’s usually towards the end.

A firm NO and put them down.

Must say I’m dreading this. DS is 4 months Blush

Didntwanttochangemyname · 01/06/2019 17:02

Oh god, both of mine bit me for a little phase, it is bloody awful! You have my sympathies, it's the last thing you need when you've just got to grips with feeding.
Firstly, if he broke the skin put Lansinoh on it so it heals more quickly.

When mine bit me I shouted 'ouch', mostly because it bloody hurt and gave me a fright, but it actually made both come off and stop feeding for a minute, I think I have them a fright!
I could tell when DD was about to bite, she'd stop feeding and almost smile a little before doing it. The minute I thought she might I'd readjust my position, I don't know if it did anything but I felt it distracted her a little.
It is a phase, it will pass. Well done for feeding this far, and that is great you don't want to give up over this, you can get through it!

desparate4sleep · 01/06/2019 17:06

mine did this around 5 months about 2-3 times when she was first teething but she hasnt done it since (now 9 months). It does hurt like hell and if she had continued I would have expressed.

Original poster
Missmarple45 · 01/06/2019 17:07

Ooh really!?! I must look for that thread....

It's not nice at all.

I know what to do if he does it It's just plucking up the courage to put my nip back I'm his mouth Confused how do people enjoy breastfeeding after that?

OP posts:
BumbleNova · 01/06/2019 17:10

I agree with the others that you can generally anticipate when they are about to do it. My DS is a biter. He often does it at the end of a feed. I can now feel when he has changed his latch and is about to bite me. I unlatch him sharpish.

When really upset teething he has bitten when presented with a nipple but it's v rare. It will pass I promise. My DS is 7 months, has six teeth and has stopped.

DownStreet · 01/06/2019 17:38

Mine did this when teething, but not when the teeth had actually come through. It was never at the beginning of a feed, though. So you can always take them off, and put them back on as a little reset if you start to worry they might bite soon.

Bearfrills · 01/06/2019 17:43

DS was a little swine for this! His speciality was the 3am dream feed, he'd latch on for a feed in bed then just as I was drifting back off to sleep he'd sink his teeth in.

When he bit I would pull him in really close to my breast so he would have no choice but to unlatch then I'd tell him "no biting" in a firm voice, put my boob away and fold my arms so he couldn't help himself to it. He'd have a bit of a bluster for a few seconds then I'd ask him if he still wanted milk and continue the feed. He very quickly made the connection between biting and the feed coming to an abrupt end.

Mangoandbroccoli · 01/06/2019 18:33

Mine was a very early teether so I was pretty worried about this! As others have said, a firm 'no' or a surprised 'ouch!' luckily sorted it out fairly quickly. Although it doesn't feel like it at the time, I can certainly confirm it was a relatively brief phase, as I carried on with few other problems until 19 months. Well done for doing a brilliant job and good luck! Smile

StuntCroissant · 01/06/2019 18:35

I think that might have been my thread.. The good news is that it does stop once the teeth are through and comfortable. My DS is nearly 11 months now and still BF. He does give it a pinch every now and then though.

Lazypuppy · 01/06/2019 18:40

I stopped breastfeeding as soon as my dd got teeth for this reason.

If you want to carry on, you just have to do it

Aquilla · 01/06/2019 18:41

Wean! Wean now!

Orangepear · 01/06/2019 18:46

This happened to me and I used to feed with my finger near DC 's mouth so I could get in quick before a deep bite.

Missmopfromcalifornia · 01/06/2019 18:48

Mine went through a phase of this when first teething. I used to dread feeding her. I found anbesol teething liquid really helpful. Making sure we had a really good latch and looking out for cues. A stern no biting and stopping feeding if she bit or looked like she was going to. She’d sort of stop actively feeding and have a look in her eye 😂 I thought I was going to have to wean her which really stressed me out as she has cmpa and won’t take anything but breast milk. Luckily she seems to be over it now.

JustMe81 · 01/06/2019 18:50

My little one got his first teeth at 3.5 months, I feel your pain, we went through this with each new teething bout. As PPs have said unlatch, say no biting and then latch back on. They soon learn to associate the biting with the unlatching.

Lilythesheep · 01/06/2019 19:04

I went through this with DD1. It is horrible but it doesn't last once they learn that biting means the end of the feed. I tried unlatching her (put finger in the side of their mouth to break the seal), saying "no" in a firm voice and putting her on the floor for minute. The thing that really worked though was when she bit me hard and I gave an involuntary yell. She burst into tears and she didn't bite me again. If it's at the end of the feed, you can also tell when they stop feeding and start playing around with the nipple, and you can unlatch them at that point, hopefully before they bite!

Readytogogogo · 01/06/2019 19:11

With DD1 I stopped feeding at 8 months because of this. DD2 is 7 months now but no teeth yet...

MissMousesCheese · 01/06/2019 19:19

Dc2 was a biter. On a few occasions I had to rely on feeding from one breast for a while, while the other I manually expressed from, which applied kamisollan? to. Ended up breastfeeding for over two years, and glad I persevered.

Original poster
Missmarple45 · 01/06/2019 20:21

How do you pluck up the nerve to put the nipple back in, relax and keep it in there? I can start the feed but I'm so anxious I keep taking it out Confused feeling like feeding will never be OK again and ds can sense it

OP posts:
janetforpresident · 01/06/2019 20:27

All mine have bitten once or twice but thats it. Give it a couple of days and you will have forgotten about it.

DelurkingAJ · 01/06/2019 20:30

I yelped in pain and it made DS1 jump and howl. Whilst far from ideal and not intended it did seem to prevent a recurrence. As to feeding the next time I took the view that it wasn’t a pattern. Fed him until he was 2 with no more biting during feeds.

Original poster
Missmarple45 · 01/06/2019 20:39

I feel like every time in put my nipple in he's going to bite it-i just can't relax-complete over reaction I know

OP posts:
PlinkPlink · 01/06/2019 20:49

😲 please dont block his nose!!!

Just a simple little finger in at the side of the mouth can easily detach the gums from your nipple.

DS bit occasionally but each time he did, I'd whip out the boob and say firmly "NO!" Then gently give him back the boob.

He got it quite well. He really didnt enjoy me whipping out the boob.

Bearfrills · 01/06/2019 20:59

There is no harm in pulling a biting child into your breast so that they have to unlatch, it's not the same thing as blocking their nose and it is not cruel. It's the method recommended by the HV and the paediatrician we were seeing at the time, it's also the method least likely to cause further damage to your nipple as they immediately unlatch without any pulling or scraping.

Oysterbabe · 01/06/2019 21:04

It really fucking hurts. I remember DS going through a little phase of doing this at a similar age but it didn't last long. Although he does do it very rarely now at 17 months and then laughs his head off when I squeal.

SnowyAlpsandPeaks · 01/06/2019 21:07

I gave up breastfeeding before that stage, so my idea may not work at all, but could you use some type of nipple shield? I don’t actually know how they work🙈

Swipe left for the next trending thread