Poorly 7mo keeps biting

[MegBusset]

Hot on the heels of chicken pox, poor DS2 (7mo) has bronchiolitis. He's not suffering too badly and is feeding reasonably but has started biting (he's had bottom teeth for a month but has never bitten before), maybe because he's bunged up? It's v important that he doesn't get dehydrated while ill, so any tips?

Hopeful bump

Try not to tense up whilst feeding - very easy to say, but try. I know how you are feeling, am on my second biting baby - she is 7 months too.

Is he biting before, during or after a feed?

Popping a (wet) finger in to de-latch is the only thing that works for me. Then try feeding again from the other breast.

When they are bunged up feeds tend to be little and often. I also tend to hold the breast, so that the nostrils are not in contact with the flesh.

It's either before or after the feed when he's actually feeding it's OK. It's not such a problem when he's already fed but this morning he wouldn't latch on just kept biting -- and I had to give up and try again half an hour later.

That wouldn't normally worry me DS1 used to do the same when teething, and it would pass in a few days but being ill he's not feeding as much as normal (and hasn't got much appetite for solids) so I need every feed to count IYSWIM.

Right, I understand. Biting before a feed is tough at the best of times, but when you need him to up his intake, tis tough.

Teething ring/toy before a feed?