Thanks to MN have bf for 6 months...please help me overcome this hurdle!

[GMajor7]

Hello,

Thanks to some excellent advice and support from MNetters I have breastfed DD for the past 28 weeks Great! I really wouldn't have it any other way now, despite the challenges we have overcome.

However...DD has grown two lovely lower incisors and has developed a habit of chomping on my nipple. I have searched for threads on this and have followed the advice i.e. say a firm 'no' etc., but at 6 months I don't think she quite gets it! Just gives me a cheeky smile.

What to do?? She is being weaned at the mo and having 3 small feeds a day plus 4-5 bfs. My HV advised me to feed solids first and then bf...perhaps this is the problem as maybe she isn't as hungry after solids and therefore biting? (but then if I bf first she might then reject solids for the same reason?) Argh, what a conundrum?

She doesn't do this at every feed - perhaps once or twice a day, but I'm becoming somewhat apprehensive!

Advice please!

I used to place both mine on the floor when they did this. They would realise that bite=no milk, the feed would be disturbed and it soon worked. It won't last long. It's a phase I think they all go through.

Thanks Red...I suspect I'm just being impatient. I cut her bf short this afternoon and put her straight in her cot as she bit me quite hard. She wasn't impressed and cried for a minute then off to sleep, so perhaps tiredness is also a trigger. Flippin' hurts though!

Tiredness and boredom are both biting triggers.

I disagree with your HV btw - you should offer breast first, otherwise you run the risk of filling baby up with (lower calorie) solids and not wanting milk.

Milk first then solids. They are more likely to fiddle, mess about and bite if they aren't hungry.

Milk should remain the bulk of the calories for now.

Great, thanks for that..I'll switch to milk first then!