9 month old biting whilst breastfeeding - I don't want to stop bf but it hurts!!

[lorisparkle]

My 9 1/2 month old DS2 has got 4 lovely sharp teeth and has started biting whilst I am breastfeeding him. Last night I unlatched him after he did it but then he got really upset and refused to breastfeed again until I had calmed him down. He did the same at 3am but then would not settle back to sleep. I am gradually night weaning him but don't want to stop bf. DS1 was 15 months when I stopped but his teeth came in much later.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

No amazing suggestions here, lori, but I did do the unlatching thing and a firm no with my DS at a similar age and after a while he got it. I seem to remember I just did it during the day to avoid night time hysteria.

It does get easier fairly quickly anyway as your nipples seem to toughen up (lovely!) and their teeth lose their sharpness when they eat solid food. Also, I think they just get the hang of the new position. Although I should warn you he still did bite sometimes when he was teething.

someone on here suggested I pull the baby ib tighter when he does that - rather than pulling him aay which is a shock I appreciate that this is the opposite of what you want to do with a couple of new sharp teeth attached to your nipple... but it worked for me.

This phase, like them all, does pass - honest!

Pull the baby into you so you basically block his nose and he has to let go to breathe - much less painful pulling them off. I used to say a very firm 'NO!' then let the LO latch back on again. I didn't get much biting from mine (all have had teeth by 6 months) though.

X-posts with Tommy!

Thanks everyone, I will try the pulling towards me with a firm no and make sure I give him lots of crunchy things to eat to help the teeth lose their sharpness!

Oh, tighter! Why didn't anyone tell me that when I was bitten...?!

Oh, I didn't ask m-ners, that's why. Damn damn damn damn...

Loris I have a biter also, mine's 10 months this week- owwww.

The pulling in trick does help- it seems to focus: if it doesn't remove him with a firm no!. He might get upset but it is imortant he learns.

However- try some karvol; ds4 is far worse with biting when he has a blocked nose. It might simply be that.

I'm seconding Peachy here - my dds only bit when they had a cold/blocked nose. Frustration I think. Try to get his nose clearer with karvol in bedroom and maybe vicks on his chest (I also used to dab it on the upper bit of my chest so she'd breathe it when bfing).

With teeth, I found it was only the first few days when they were cutting through. Once they come through the sharpness goes.

It'll pass don't worry

Umm.... is it usual to still breast feed once they have teeth? I stopped breast feeding once the biting started, DD was about 10 months and eating solid food by then.

All my LOs have had their first teeth by 5 months - they weren't on solid food then......

Anyway, WHO guidelines recommend bfing till 2 years.

And have noticed that my childrens' teething is getting earlier as this thread moves on - meant that they have all had teeth by 6 months, but were not on/just starting weaning then

My ds started biting at 9mths too and unfortunately after yelping in pain a couple of times he then equated feeding with me yelping and stopped BF! I was gutted..that said, I didn't enjoy it with the sharp teeth and my first ds weaned himself off bf at 6mths so I felt glad I'd managed for an extra 3 mths with ds2. You've done well to keep at it for 9mths so even if it does mean the end, don't feel badly about it. If you can get through it, even better. I didn't manage to!

Wow, guidelines say BF until 2 years old? That can't be the norm surely? my youngest is 2 years old, can't imagine what it would be like to still be breast feeding her. She drinks from a cup and eats using cutlery!

Guidance aside, I would be interested to know statistically what the usual age is for stopping Breast feeding.

I assume you are being facetious. There is no connection, rather a progression from baby feeding.
Why does a 2 year old still need to breast feed? Surely if they are being fed a good quality and varied diet all nutritional needs are met?

jemart, this is why!

Ah. One of those websites. Big on assertions and advice but low on actual research and evidence to back it up.

Still would like to know at what age most breastfed babies in the UK are weaned. Anyone know this?

Hi, there's a article in the BMJ (Wright, Parkinson, Drewitt)that says that most babies in the UK are weaned before 4 months and the article researches why this should be the case.

Kellymom appears to be American, I am more interested in what is usual practice here in the UK.

gosh aren't women meant to be supportive of each other as opposed to getting into debates regarding such a personal issues. It is fab that a baby is breatfed for as long as possible, if it is right for mum and baby then the longer the better.

I am having a dilema at the moment - 13 month old baby has been biting for a week and going down to sleep with less and less of a feed. Think she may be telling me she has had enough? any advice?

It sounds like you mums need to get out more!!... Breastfeeding isn't a competition, it's about what feels right for the mum and the baby!... Back to the original question... my little boy has started biting, but I just managed to get him to feed by calming him right down so that he was almost asleep, and then putting him to my breast, I'm hoping this is going to be the trick!... Good with whatever happens!