ouch! She's really hurting me!

[ginger2000]

my 3 and a half month old dd2 has started gnawing my nipples during feeds. It really hurts, especially as she is pulling them between her gums as well! I suspect she is teething although it does seem early.

Any tips to stop her doing it as clearly I can't tell her not to as she is so young. I've just put her to bed and my nips are throbbing!!

Ow!

Is she gnawing while feeding? Or just when the flow is a lot slower?

You have a couple of options here.

First of all, which I would normally recommend more for a baby that's really chewing down, is to press her into your breast if she bites. That does fix it!

Second, you can try to take her off (carefully!) once she starts doing this.

Third, you can try threating the sore gums before a feed - either with calgel or with an icy soother (ok, that means cold nipples for you, but better than sore, right?) or with calpol or similar.

Fourth, you could try breast compressions or similar to speed up the flow when it slows down, to get her back to proper feeding.

Thanks NQC - Have had to resort to rugby hold today as that seems to stop her pulling away with the nipple between her gums! Don't feel happy doing that in public though so am hoping this is just a phase!

Have tried just taking her off but often she is still hungry - it is definitely happens more when the flow slows down - impatient madam!