being bitten (ok gummed) to distraction - help!

[bratnav]

DS is 5 months and doesn't have teeth yet but is teething a bit. We have also started BLW in the last few days (just fruit and veg til he is 6 months).

He has started biting down really hard and sometimes pulling off at the same time, it is soooo painful. What can I do?

He seems to be off and on growth spurting, so on the boob a lot, but this is really making me reluctant to feed him.

Anyone?

when ds3 bites down i usually cuddle him really close into me so that he can't pull off, and it usually surprises him into letting go

Don't want you to go unanswered, but have no help! My 5 month old DD DOES have teeth and is biting (also just started BLW - going amazingly). Before the teeth arrived she was biting and pulling off. Now just bites and stays there. I can't believe how sharp baby teeth are! I know the feeling about becoming reluctant (now compounded for me by thrush and am in absolute agony). I'm really determined to make sure we breastfeed as much as before the BLW to make sure she's getting enough nutrients and calories, but this new habit doesn't make it easier. I've been told on another thread that it hasn't lasted long for others (maybe a week). They're so young. I do remind myself that she doesn't understand it hurts - but have to do this through the tears of pain. Then I feel bad for not being delighted to endure so much for my lovely little girl!

Hi Bratnav

His teeth could be bothering him and he's at the lovely age of exploring with his mouth so it can be a good game.

Is he doing it at every feed?
All through the feed?

My DS is 9mths now and went through a phase of doing this.

I used to take him off, ignore him then offer the boob again calmly. Once he got into his flow he would stop.

He teethed around 5-6mths and has 6 now. I've only been properly bitten once - ow!

I pull him so close so he can't breath for a second and he lets go quickly. He's only done it knowingly a couple of times and in this instance I put him down and walk away.

Oh hello Bratnav!

My DD (nearly 4 mo) does this occasionally, too. Squeezes the nipple through her gums while pulling away - I think she does it when the milk isn't coming quickly enough for her. She gets her patience from me All I can do is grow an extra pair of hands to hold her head in place, while supporting her body and head and stopping her little hands exploring at the same time

Sorry - no help whatsoever. Sympathy, though.

I shrieked whenenever DS did this. I couldn't help it, and although he cried, he soon stopped!

P.S. I fed him till about 13 months.

My DS does this on occasion. I held him away from me after and said "mummy doesn't like that" and gave him a 'look' which made him cry!
And if I can tell he is about to do it I do what has been mentioned already and pull him in closer so he can't take my nipple with him when trying to look at daddy/telly/dog etc.

I contacted LLL about something similar.

The advise was;

Pull them in closer to the breast so they don't pull off whilst biting.

Use your finger to gently ease open their mouth to release the bite.

Watch carefully for signs of the bite and unlatch before they do it. Apparently they can only bite when they are not actively feeding, so watch for the signs...

As soon as they bite, unlatch, tell them no biting and then stop feeding for a while.

DS2 took a couple of days but it did work!

Thanks all for the advice, DSDs birthday weekend so haven't been online. I do shriek when it happens, ask the Bristol MNers who go to meet ups

Hopefully this will work and I can feed him for longer, not too keen on the idea when he has teeth and I'm hoping to get to a year.