I'm sure it's been done before...biting!

[belindarose]

I can't find anything much by using the search facility, but I'm sure many others have experienced this. My 5 month old has grown herself two teeth of which she is very proud and enjoys exercising while feeding! I really have had a few very painful nips and have just managed not to cry out. All the advice I've heard is to remove the baby and end the feed when this happens. However, breastfeeding is only really just falling into place for us after a very rocky start and months of difficulties. I'm always so worried that something I do could end it for good.
The bites seem to be as she pulls off - clamps down and pulls. She pulls off many times during a feed though (one of our catalogue of difficulties), so it's not just one bite I have to put up with.
Any ideas gratefully received.

My daughter grew out of this after a week. She'd get a certain look in her eye before doing it LOL. I'd just get my finger in there sharpish to unlatch her. Brought tears to my eyes everytime, that was a long week. I did cry out once and scared her

You may not be so lucky with it stopping but maybe if you put on teething gel before the feed, she won't use you to teethe on as they won't hurt? Maybe

Looking forward to hearing more ideas for you x

bump for you

Thanks, both of you. I haven't noticed a 'look' yet, but will watch her carefully for signs! I noticed she didn't do it during either of her night feeds. She's objecting strongly to teething gel at the moment. Used to like it, but since having Daktarin gel for thrush, she expects everything I put in her mouth to taste of sugary orange and the Bonjela just doesn't cut it! I'll try it though.

When ds started doing this I was advised that when they bite you should pull them towards you so that their nose is in your breast and they then open their mouth to breathe and stop biting, also as they don't like the sensation then they stop biting as they learn to associate it with biting. Well that's the theory! It sort of works with ds in that he stops biting but it usually makes him grin so not sure it's really working on discouraging him though!

I found it usually tends to happen (with ds anyway) towards the end of the feed when maybe he's had enough or there isn't such a fast flow of milk and as teaandcake said you have to watch out for it and unlatch them.

It does seem to be just a phase though - ds did it quite a bit when he first got his 2 bottom teeth and then stopped - maybe when he got used to having teeth iyswim.

good luck!