Biting toddler - what to do???

[laundrylover]

I need advice and sympathy please!
DD2 is 18 months old and has had teeth for 6 month but has recently started biting me when she feeds. It may be linked to teething/snotty cold as it comes and goes, however my left nipple now has a hole in it. It won't heal as her teeth are in the same place every time so I'm worried it might go septic eventually. She knows it's sore cos she sometimes stops feeding and tells me but it's her fault it's sore so she can't complain!!!!

Anyway, any advice - the pushing in won't help as she is too old, I ask her not to use teeth and I think she tries. Worth trying a nipple shield do you think?

I don't really want to stop bfeeding because of this as we both enjoy it and she is really flexible so I can go away for the night no problem etc.

Are her teeth actually on your nipple when she's feeding? Can you get her to open her mouth wider? I can feel ds's teeth occasionally when his latch isn't right (he is 14 months). If you think she's biting you on purpose I would personally stop the feed very firmly.

Sorry forgot about the sympathy bit, the hole sounds horrible! Ds has bitten me once since he had top and bottom teeth and it was horrendously painful, that didn't even draw blood so can't really imagine how much pain you must have been in!

Thanks L and L,

Yes it is like her teeth are there all the feed - it's very odd. In a way I can't feel it after the initial latch on but then there are definate indents when she finishes....only on the left side too. Trouble is that if I stop the feed she gets very upset which makes me think she isn't doing it on purpose. It's all new to me as stopped bfing DD1 at 8 months before she could converse about such things.

Any of the teatime crew have biting toddlers???

You may feel that this is a bit mean, but what I did with DS3 was to stop his nostrils so he had to let go with the teeth in order to breathe!

That's a good tip Dinosaur - I don't think you're mean!!

The good news is that the teeth seem to have been put away and my holey nipple is on the mend.....hope it lasts...

Thanks for the advice.