6 month old driving me nuts with nipple-chewing

7 replies

washnomore · 02/04/2011 10:43

She keeps ratching for a feed then latching on and pushing my breast away while pulling my nipple back with her gums. It's not particularly sore but it appears I have asbestos nips and feel no pain. It is really, really annoying though, especially when coupled with the neck-craning and distraction and general bobbing on and off that goes with this stage. Any suggestions on why she's doing it and how to make it stop before I'm left with droopy nipples too?!

OP posts:

NoWittyName · 02/04/2011 11:00

You're very lucky it's not immensely painful - more power to your nipples! It's probably either a good game or something to do with teething. My suggestion (but it is only a suggestion) is to give a firm 'no' and remove her from the breast each time she does it.

Good luck!

matana · 02/04/2011 17:15

DS (19 weeks) went through a stage like this a week or so back, really chomped on my nipple - and it hurt! I said loudly "ouch!" and removed it from his mouth for a minute or two. He was quite shocked by my reaction and cried for a bit. He hasn't done it since, but i am still wary.

Original poster

washnomore · 02/04/2011 19:31

Thanks :)

She's bitten a few times and much as I try to do a firm "no" it's often a roar in practice

OP posts:

NoWittyName · 03/04/2011 21:10

Roar will probably get the message over even more quickly!

kellytoys · 03/04/2011 22:09

i had this for a while. Have you tried feeding her in a very boring room? they can get interested in things happening around them, i do understand this is not always possible

Original poster

washnomore · 03/04/2011 22:28

Thanks kelly. I tend to feed her before naps (so upstairs in the dark) anyway although she does do it more say when we're having a top-up before going out somewhere so you may be on to something. Having said that she's fussy when she's doing it so maybe it is teeth. I don't recall DS ever doing this in over 2 years of feeding - every other conceivable annoyance but not the nipple-stretch!

OP posts:

amberscow · 03/04/2011 22:46

wear a necklace with beads or something on while feeding and that can keep their attention. i had to do that with dd as she was exactly the same. as for the biting definately a firm no, quite loud too usually shocks them out of it. prepare for some crying but it does do the trick

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