Help! DS has got teeth and he knows how to use them!

[sweetandtenderhooligan]

My 8 month old DS has been biting and scraping during feeding since he cut his first bottom teeth last month. He now has three more teeth on top and it's becoming very difficult to BF. Unless I have a very full boob he tends to pinch around at first, then starts feeding and the worst bit is at the end of a feed when he snaps down and pulls off at the same time. He used to do this with his gums, which was tolerable.

I've tried a firm "no" every time he does it but he just smiles at me.

Is it time to say goodbye to bf and start bottle feeding? I've really enjoyed feeding him but this isn't fun and I actually dread it at times now

I had this problem. DD is now 14 months and still bf though, so it can definitely be overcome, although she will still bite occationally (and with 12 teeth you know about it!) and if the latch isn't right I can get a bit sore.

There are some very knowledgeable MNers who will be able to offer far better advice than I, but fwiw I'm not sure that I did anything about it. I think that when babies get new teeth it can take a while for them to get used to feeding with them and until then the latch can get a bit sore and you might get teeth marks.

Fingers crossed she'll get used to the teeth and feeding will become more gentle for you

I don't think they understand no yet - my 8 month old has just got his first tooth too, and as soon as I feel him about to bite I make a sharp uh-uh kind of noise that usually stops him. If he actually bites though I stop the feed and put him down.

Same here, DS bit me a few weeks ago and still threatens it occasionally. When he first did it i said "ouch!" loudly and removed my boob from his mouth for a minute before allowing him to continue and saying "gentle" in a low voice. He was quite shocked by my initial reaction and cried. He hasn't done a full on bite again but i watch him when he begins to fuss so i know if he's more likely to do it and i carefully prise my nipple away, say "gentle" and allow him to continue. After a while just saying "gentle" when he begins to fuss seems to be enough. He's now a lot better about dropping my nipple before pulling way!