Refusing breast and biting 😔

[Contemplates]

My 9 month old has sharp teeth like little bits of broken glass.

He bites me every time I try to breastfeed him. Today is day 5 and I've had to pump and feed in a bottle because of the biting. He's used to a bottle as I've been combined feeding for about 3 months now.

Each time he bites I've yelped in an automatic response and then said "no biting!" Which makes him laugh and then look frightened and cry.

Today when I tried to latch him again, he took a couple of sucks and I praised him, then he immediately bit and I managed not to yell but just said quietly 'no' while looking serious, and he started crying and pushing me away.

He's on antibiotics for ear infection so I think probably it hurts to suck.

But I've got a 3 year old as well as just can't pump all the time from a practical point of view. Not long term anyway.

I feel so sad! Has anyone else come across this and are there any tips with how to remedy it or come to terms with the fact there's nothing I can do.

I imagine its a combination of teething and ear pain. Have you tried giving nurofen a few minutes before to calm down the inflammation from both sites?

Was going to say the same thing as Juniper, the only time I've had behaviour like that it's been from an ear infection and giving pain relief (also the antibiotics, once they kicked in) really helped. He went back to feeding normally as soon as the infection cleared up.

Thanks for that. I've given calpol regularly but not Nurofen as he was also on steroids for his chest and we were told don't give both together. He's off steroids now so I could use Nurofen now.

When you say it returned to normal after a week, did you have to pump all that time? I am worried he will forget what a nipple is for and think its a breadstick!

No, he was a lot better before the infection was gone completely so he was able to feed once I'd dosed him up on Nurofen - I only had to pump for a day or so.

It's been a week and I'm afraid he has forgotten

Is it evry single feed? Both my dd's have had biting phases. I quickly worked out when they were about to do so and unlatched them with my little finger before hand each time. If I missed a and they did bite then the feed was over, I would unlatch, and cover myself up, put baby down on the floor. Sometimes baby would cry, I would re feed then repeat above. Sometimes they were happy the feed was over.

DD1 who would bite every single time got this within a day or twocand would stop. Dd2 only bites evry now and then and still tries but I know when she is about to and can stop her.

Oh I find a dab of teething gel before hand very effective.

I will try all of this but he began to push me away crying which I found so distressing!

He's never been a good feeder, always pulling off to look around at the slightest noise, and only ever fed for 3-5 min each side. But I am missing him and want to be able to breastfeed him as much as I can rather than pump. Pumping seems to be getting less and less volume too

Thought I'd update in case anyone else reads this and has experienced the same problems (but not found a suitable answer).

Skin to skin worked a little, but took a very long time, which was difficult to do in a quiet room away from my toddler and still led to biting.

Instead of yelping and pulling away, I allowed him to continuously bite me, which was not much fun! However it worked as eventually he would settle and feed.

In the end I resorted to trying a medela nipple shield. All articles I read about nursing strike suggested not to do this, but he took to it straight away and without any hesitation. I am able to let him suck until the milk comes in and then remove the shield and he has not bitten me once.

So if there is anyone else out there in this unusual and difficult situation its worth trying everything, even ideas previously dismissed by the experts. I accept that some babies may become reliant on the shield and find it hard to accept breast without; but I think its worth the gamble because it's easier (quicker and more convenient) than pumping.

Well done finding a way through! I often think the solution that gets you through is the right answer regardless of what the 'experts' say. If you and baby are both happy, great. Happy feeding!