4.5 month old will not stop biting when nursing.

[Rainsworld]

Hello, this is my first post here.

I have a 4 and a half month old baby boy who cut his first teeth about 20 daya ago (the 2 bottom ones), I was hoping to breastfeed until around Christmas time but I can't see how this will happen now as he is biting me around 10 to 15 times a day and i'm starting to get really sore now.

I have tried feeding him expressed milk from a bottle but he just won't take it, I have tried him everyday for the past week but he just plays with the teat in his mouth and get quite get the sucking right. I did give him some milk in a doidy cup yesterday, and some of it did get in his mouth, but it was a very messy affair and not really an option long term.

Whenever he bites I stop nursing him for a minute or so, this doesn't seem to have any affect on the next feeds. Also sometimes the biting can be at the beginning, sometimes at the end of the feed and sometimes in the middle so im totally confused how to stop this when it's so unpredictable!

Obviously he has to eat so I have to nurse him if he will not take from a bottle, (he's a big lad and weighs about 20lb so he loves his milk!), but i'm really starting to struggle.

Any help would really be appreciated.

Thank you.

Anyone...?

Probably not if much help but I know of a make if bottle that's apparently ideal for bf babies who refuse bottles. Called Minbie. It's something to do with shape style and texture of the teat. Read a million online reviews which say it's a godsend and my DSiL says it is indeed brilliant.
But in regards to 'teaching' your ds to not bite I reckon he's too young to really grasp or retain the fact that he bites and you stop so don't know how to help there I'm afraid.
Hope someone more useful and clued up cones alone and can help!

My DD was like this when she got her first 2 teeth at 5.5 months. The biting could be at any point in feed, but usually at the beginning.
All the info I found on the internet was to do with older babies, but found something about making sure latch/positioning was good.
I went back to basics (I had got a bit lazy with positioning and letting her latch herself) and made sure she was 'tummy to mummy' and had a wide open mouth before letting her latch. That seemed to help her stop biting at the beginning of a feed. It really settled down with that and I think she also just got used to the teeth being there.
She still bites occasionally at the end of a feed if really sleepy/asleep and is not latched on correctly, so I just keep a close eye on her.
The bottom two teeth coming through has also coincided with refusing bottle - I think it might be to do with the feel of her teeth, but not sure.

HTH

I read on a baby site that it can be an idea to press the baby into the boob when they bite so that they can't eat and eventually they will learn not to bite. It's a little mean but it might work if you're willing?
I've not tried it as my DD didn't have teeth until she was 8 months and by then a firm 'NO' was enough. Maybe try that too

Hi Rainsworld, I am a volunteer breastfeeding peer supporter. As Pie57 has said, at this age biting is more likely to be due to baby being uncomfortable and it's not possible to teach them not to do it, as with older ages (it is possible to get through biting stages at any age). Check baby's positioning and attachment and do try to get along to a BF support group in your local area if you are able to, if you'd like someone else to have a check too. Other ideas are to run some teething gel or granules on baby's gums before a feed, which can mean s/he is not so itchy/sore and less likely to bite down. As I think Pie57 also mentioned, be very vigilant and when the feed seems to be coming to an end, get ready with your little finger to break to latch before baby clamps down - it is not always obvious though. You could then swap to the other boob. If baby is biting at the start of the feed, it could also be to do with frustration that the milk let down is not fast enough - breast compressions and nipple tweaking can help with this! Just a caution that sometimes using bottles and/or dummies can be confusing as baby is "allowed" to chew on them but not on the nipple. But whether you use those is of course your decision. There are the ABM and LLL helplines which you can ring if you need someone to chat too. Hope that helps in some way and that your night goes well.

Agree with PP to check latch and shove extra boob their way when they bite. We had issues at the end of the feed so I had to take her off myself rather than wait for her to let go and scrape my nipple on the way out. After a couple of weeks it got better - if all else fails try nipple shields for a bit

I have the same problem, baby is 4.5 months and has had a tooth since 3 months but biting has only just become a real problem. He's drawn blood a couple of times and put a dent under my nipple once! I feel for you, it's awful isn't it, I've got the fear now!

I read a good article about it on the Kellymom website. It had lots of things to do but a lot are aimed at older babies. I think my baby bites when frustrated or when bored towards the end of the feed so the main thing I'm doing is being vigilant and taking him off the minute he tries to clamp down. You can also push into your boob as then they can't breathe and open their mouth but I haven't tried that.

Re bottle I can only say I've been trying to give it since 7 weeks and he hated it and has only really started to take it recently, it can be a real struggle. Perseverance helps.

Let us know how you get on, it's hard isn't it. This is one reason I'm now trying to introduce a bottle of formula in the evening.

Sorry I should clarify I meant that you can get through biting stages at any age. It's just the techniques are different when the baby is younger.

Wondered how you are getting on, Rainsworld? :-)