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Infant feeding

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

Don't want to stop bf, but I'm sick of the biting :-(

6 replies

ScarlettCrossbones · 27/12/2010 08:56

8-month old DS has always had phases of biting me right from the start. I want to get to a year but am getting desperate. Top teeth are about halfway through now and we'd just about got used to them, but now he has a cold and nips me before or during most feeds atm. I dread each feed and end up putting them off and giving him food instead, which obviously isn't ideal.

Every website that gives advice on biting tells you what to do WHEN he bites, but that isn't much good, I want to know how to prevent it happening in the first place! I usually yelp involuntarily, take him straight off (obviously!), say "No biting!", put him on the floor and walk away. But he just doesn't seem to be getting the idea. Any advice would be most welcome!

My other two DC were similar but not as bad - I made it to a year with both of them, but it would be really galling to have to go out and buy bottles and formula now, for the sake of another four months!

OP posts:
BrandyButterPie · 27/12/2010 09:18

I'm afraid I just stopped feeding my 13mo for this exact reason :( I was spending every feed stressed and worrying if she would bite, and I was avoiding her in case she asked for milk, so enough was enough.

ScarlettCrossbones · 27/12/2010 09:23

Thanks, Brandy. Yes, I'd be happy to stop if he was that age - in fact I switched to cow's milk at 11.5 mths, not quite 12, with the other 2 as they were scraping, hanging on with their teeth etc, but I can't switch at 8 mths, can I? I've had your phrase "enough's enough" going round quite a bit in my head lately Sad !

OP posts:
theboobmeister · 27/12/2010 11:05

I tried the "no biting" thing and putting DD down, also didn't work - like yours, she just didn't make the connection.

What worked for me was this. I watched her like a hawk until I could recognise the signs of an impending bite. Then when I saw one coming, quick as a flash, I stuck my finger in so she couldn't close her jaws and just kept her there right next to my boob. Of course, she got damned frustrated because she wanted to latch on. I wouldn't let her latch for maybe 30 seconds, enough for her to get quite annoyed. Then, if she did it again, I'd repeat the exercise. Eventually she twigged. Frustration can really work to your advantage!

Another technique recommended by a BF counsellor was to push their face right into your boob when they start to bite. That way, they have to let go in order to breathe! It sounds pretty tough but I bet it would work!

blueberrysantabait · 27/12/2010 11:13

I have used the push their face in my boob with great success! I only had to do it once and DD 2 hasn't bitten since. I have a rather ample bust and she got quite a fright and cried. No problems with latching next feed and she must have known my response was boob related.

ScarlettCrossbones · 27/12/2010 13:21

Thanks, theboob, I will definitely try that. I do watch him like a hawk ? can't do anything else at all while he feeds now ? but haven't tried keeping him close to the breast with my finger in his mouth. That could work. The pushing face into boob thing ? there's actually no time to do that as he bites, I scream and he opens wide and comes straight off all within about 0.5 of a second!

OP posts:
RJandA · 28/12/2010 10:20

Nipple shields?

Or my friend uses the closer to nature teats which she had in anyway, saving herself a fiver Grin

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