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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breastfeeding and biting.

17 replies

VictorianSqualor · 21/11/2008 18:55

DS2(7 months and a bit) has started biting, quite a lot, in fact at least once before every latch, and hard, proper razor blades through the nipple biting.
I had the same with ds1 (but only once he had both top and bottom teeth, closer to 9 months than 7) and stopped feeding him, he wouldn't stop biting no matter what I did.
Help?

Also, I think I've scared the life out of DS2 as I screamed after the third time a few minutes ago and now he is refusing to feed.

I really do NOT want to stop feeding him, when DS1 was 11 months he got really poorly and I was devastated that I couldn't feed him

OP posts:
chibi · 21/11/2008 19:03

my dd went through a phase of this. I hd to keep unlatching, waiting a few minutes then relatching. I also found that she took to biting when she didn't want milk.

there were a couple of bitey weeks but we got through it - ahve just finished feeding her at 17 1/2 months old.
hth

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 21/11/2008 19:23

Hmm, I just went back up to settle him and he wasn't at all interested in the breast.
Maybe he's poorly and biting is his way of saying no. Goodness knows.

OP posts:
chibi · 21/11/2008 19:24

keep offering and try not to get too stressed. he will take it when he wants it.

good luck

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 21/11/2008 19:27

Thanks

OP posts:
FeelingLucky · 21/11/2008 19:30

DD used to bite when she had finished too, all I could do was de-latch her as soon as I could see it coming. She also used to bite if I didn't give her enough attention (ie look at her) or was talking to someone else when feeding.
She soon grew out of it and is still breastfeeding at almost 18 months.

DD also went on a nursing strike when I stupidly screamed out loud when she bit me. Fortunately it only lasted 24 hours, but it can go on for longer. There's lots of advice on kellymom.

hth

charitas · 21/11/2008 21:44

ooh bumping 'cause my 8mnth old is doing the same. I'm premenstrual does that make any difference! By the way VS I am calmly saying no and he cries at the word no!

kathryn2804 · 21/11/2008 21:53

I screamed at mine, he stopped and cried and refsed to feed, but got the message and never did it again. Take him off EVERY time he does it. he will soon get the message that if he wants booby, he must not bite!

bettythebuilder · 21/11/2008 22:03

if pulling baby off the breast is ouchie, I read advice to pull the baby in towards you when they bite, they will have to open their mouths to breathe, and as you are not pulling them away from you they can't scrape you.

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 21/11/2008 22:10

He just bites the second the nipple is in the mouth though, makes no diff whether it's pull in or pull off sadly.

OP posts:
MrsJamin · 21/11/2008 22:20

DS bit a lot when he had lots of teeth coming through when he was 7 MO. Once he bit so hard he made a proper hole which got infected and I had to go on antibiotics - but he hasn't bitten me in a good few months now, so there's hope for you! I think they sink their teeth in more when they are teething- I found it helped when I put bonjela on his gums before a feed. Hope you manage to continue - I'm so glad I did.

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 21/11/2008 22:39

Did it last long?

OP posts:
BabiesEverywhere · 22/11/2008 19:48

VS,

Be reassured that many babies bite their nursing mothers at some stage, though some make it more or a habit than others. Judging my by RL friends

In my daughters case it was linked to teething. I started to apply teething gel to her gums and gave her a cold teething ring to chew on a few minuted before I started to nurse. I also watched her carefully and at the first sign of her stopping sucking or starting to bite, I would break the seal between her and my breast and place her safely on the floor/cot/sofa.

Kellymom says this worth a read.

Good luck...I must confess, I hope my DS misses out this stage of nursing it isn't fun whilst going though it.

ChairmumMiaow · 22/11/2008 19:50

My DS (10mo) is teething and has started (gently so far) biting down when he's had enough milk.

I just end the feed there and tell him not to bite. Hopefully that will work before he starts biting hard!

BabiesEverywhere · 22/11/2008 19:53

Forgot to say DD stopped doing it after a few weeks and we are still nursing nearly 2 years later !!!

LesserSpottedStrumpet · 22/11/2008 21:08

Glad to find this thread - I was about to post to ask what happens now that DD2's (9mo)teeth are coming through. I stoppped bfing DD1 before she got teeth so never had this worry!

That link to Kellymom was very helpful, thanks! I'm not quite so worried about getting bitten now.

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 23/11/2008 13:19

He seems to have stopped, for now am hoping that;s the last of it but those top teeth haven't come through yet.

OP posts:
ChairmumMiaow · 23/11/2008 18:36

In an interesting and frustrating turn of events, we now have biting, in conjunction with a refusal to actually eat any solids or drink much milk. Thankfully he's not biting too hard, but it's enough to make my nipples sore!

With solids he puts the food in his mouth but spits it straight out again as if something's hurting further back in his mouth.

I'm just ending the feed when he bites and hoping its a phase. DH had to cuddle him to sleep on our bed for his nap this morning as he bit me repeatedly even though he'd had nothing to speak of since 3am!

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