Biting Breastfeeding Baby

[lookingfortheadult]

Hi!

My baby is nearly seven months and EBF. Over the last week he's started to bite my nipples when feeding constantly and is barely taking any milk. He's feeding for max 5 minutes (mostly 3/4 minutes every 2-3 hours). He's having solids but still in the sucking vs. eating phase. He doesn't seem distressed or crying either. And still lots of wet nappies.

Does anyone have any advice? On how to stop the biting / how to make sure he's getting enough milk?

Thanks!

Sorry haven't got much time to post but the exact same thing happened to me at the same age.

I called one of the BFing Helplines and with the suggestion from the BFC it stopped.

I'd give one of them a call this morning

You could try some teething remedies about half an hour before a feed, anbesol is good. Give some chewy teething toys to chew at other times. Also does he need pain relief? Sometimes BF babies will feed because feeding is pain relief and comfort for them. Make sure he’s latched on as deep as possible. You can also call the NBH or NCT lines.

No advice, just solidarity. I had the same at 7 months with my now 9 month old. Four teeth popped through in quick succession. He’s stopped now, pretty much. It’s bloody annoying though. My now 5 yo also did it when she was about the same age.

My baby bites at the end of a feed for me, so i watch for the signals he’s getting close to finished and you develop a sixth sense for when the bite is going to come, so quickly unlatch. If he does manage to bite, I say “ah ah” and put my boob away. That’s about all you can do really.

My two only ever feed 5 mins every 2-3 hours. I think they become quite efficient at this age. So that’s never worried me.

other thing to consider: periods returning - mine returned at 6 months and I do find my supply goes low before it comes - maybe biting out of frustration due to that?

Might not be the 'correct' advice but a loud 'ow!' and taking my baby off the breast for a bit before trying again meant my baby stopped doing this after a couple of days.

Guess they're just learning what these teeth can do but it's not a pleasant phase!

My poor nipples are so sore. And he looks up at me with this little angelic smile. It's brutal.

Do keep an eye out for the end of a feed as someone said above - mine did it when bored!

Oh I remember my ds doing this. Cheeky little bugger did it first the first time and when I shrieked he laughed his head off. I remember the advice being to try not to react, to stop the feed and put them down. I did this the next few times and said "no biting" and he seemed to get the message.

Ouch this is so painful! I would stop feeding when he does this.

I think you are all right that it's end of feed and he's telling me he's done with it. But feeds are so short that it's throwing me! Will try paying proper attention and not multitasking to avoid spending the rest of my days with no nipples.

It's the way he clamps on and pulls like some kind of anatomy stretch Armstrong.

well solidarity because my DS has just bitten me twice while putting him down to sleep 😭😭 little monkey