Biting while feeding

[Joe]

I am still breastfeeding my son who is 11 months old. In the last couple of days he has just started to bite me. Any suggestions on how to stop this as I dont intend to start weaning him off until he is a year old and it really hurt.

The natural tendency when you're bitten is to pull away from the pain. However, a good way to deal with it is to bring your baby in closer to you. That way, he gets a face full of boob and will let go.

I found that my son started to bite when he didn't want to carry on breastfeeding. I wanted to carry on till he was at least a year but unfortunately he just didn't feel the same way. And there wasn't anything I could do other that respect his wishes (reluctantly - I was upset)

I know this is by no means the only reason for biting, and plenty of poor mums get bitten for other reasons, but it's one possibility that you need to consider.

Also, are you sure you're still producing plenty of milk? Often when you get down to just a couple of feeds a day, or several small ones and the child is increasing food & drink intake your milk supply can decrease very quickly, and he might be biting/chewing because he's not getting any milk.

If you are getting low this might be another reason for biting. You could talk to a breastfeeding counsellor or LA Leche League, or in the from contented baby to confident child (Gina Ford) book she give a plan on increasing your supply which might be worth a go.
Good luck

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try the closer approach as the times he has done it I have pulled away probably making it more painful. And yes Bo maybe he is telling me something. He still feeds when he wants but they are smaller and seems mainly for a quick snack or comfort, his main feeds in the morning and evening. If we are out and about he will drink water or juice and not ask for a feed unless he gets tired, but sometimes he will go without. Maybe I will now reduce the daytime feeds and see if I can use a dummy for a while. Im probably going to like the weaning process less than ds, I enjoy our feeding times. Maybe time for another!! Thanks

Hi Joe

My son did this at around the same age. When it happened I would take him off the breast, say 'No' firmly and put him down for a short time (only 30 seconds or so). This worked for us. As a matter of fact he misbehaves for attention now (he'll be 3 in November) so it was perhaps the toddler in him just practicing! But now I think about it, Bo may have a point as by 14 months he had weaned himself.

Hope you get it sorted out soon.

Jane - moderator

Thanks everybody, no biting since yesterday morning so Im not cringing when he goes to feed at the moment, but I will try all suggestions next time he does it and see which one he responds to. He might have just been playing, but it still hurt.

Joe - my son did it too but it was a very short phase so just hang on in there!

Good news, no biting since the other day, he must have just been having a play. The suggestions here though are fixed in my mind as Im sure it will not be the last time. Thanks all.