Biting, what else can I do?

[YanknCock]

As soon as DS hit 6 months he started biting. I thought I was supposed to unlatch him quickly saying 'NO!' and eventually he would get the message. Well, it's been 2.5 weeks and I'm still getting bitten nearly every day. Once was so bad I couldn't feed off that side for about 12 hours.

It is somewhat predictable, after he's been on for about 5 minutes and possibly the flow is slowing down, that's when he gives me a nip. He never does it in the morning when he's slept through the night and is really hungry.

Of course when I complain about it, I get 'well that's a sign you shouldn't be BFing anymore' (from a friend who thinks it is 'disgusting' to begin with and extra revolting if done past 1 year).

Help anyone? I can keep going if I know this will work eventually. Any other techniques for stopping the biting? He is BLWing now, very successfully. No teeth yet.

Do I just need to carry on with what I'm doing, any idea how long it takes them to get the message that biting hurts? Now, he laughs and grins even though I have a very serious 'No!' and expression!

One method to get baby to unlatch quickly is to push baby into the breast so that the breast covers his nose...this will make him open his mouth to breath and so unlatch him.

As for breast manners, it's a two pronged approach. Do put him down and say no, firmly without smiling but not shout or scare him and also becoming aware that he is quicker on the breast now he's that bit older and that he'll start to press down with his gums when the flow slows down or he's had enough and starts "playing"

You could try breast compression if you think it's to do with the flow slowing down. Use the same hand as the breast and place the thumb at 9 o'clock and the first 2 fingers at 3 o'clock towards your chest wall, so your web between thumb and fingers is touching breast and squeeze gently once he's stopped feeding effectively...this may delay him pressing down but best to take him off once he's finished that side and offer 2nd side

hope that helps! as with all things ...this too shall pass

x

ohh, it's awful when you are trying to relax and feed and that suddenly happens - and I bet now you are anticipating it even when it doesn't come.. Mine did bite but I must say he didn't keep it going too long. The worst pain was a less deliberate sort of "gumming" thing he would do whenever teething, using me like a teething ring I think.
When you say no and do the stern face, do you actually put him down somewhere so he's cut off from the milk? I think DS went straight back into his cot when he did bite, no idea if that helped him stop doing it, as with so many things probably just a coincidence!It might (fingers crossed) be a nine-day's-wonder for him, he might stop on his own.
You are doing so well it would be a shame for this to be what stops you. Mine stopped bf of his own accord at 2 and had a full mouth of teeth by then, hadn't bitten in a year. at your "friend", I'd love to meet her!

If he's teething, and it takes months for the first few to come through, biting will be soothing on his gums.
So putting some teething gel on shortly before feeding might help. It helps the nipple if nothing else.

I generally have a finger near ready to stick in his mouth at the first sign of anything that might hurt. It's usually him leaping off my lap while still attached these days though.

Only moan about breastfeeding to breastfeeders.

Thanks everyone! I do think he might be teething, but then again, I've thought that for the last 3 months and not a sign of an actual tooth. He gets very drooly and chews on everything.

When he bites, I do take him completely off the boob. Like today, he'd just bitten me again, so I'd said NO, unlatched him, and took him off my lap to sit next to me on the sofa while I typed up the OP. He then latched on to my arm and gave me a little hickey Honestly, I worry about him if he still hasn't figured out the difference between my arm and boob (he will also try to latch on to the sofa, his dad's nose, anything really)

Will try using teething gel and Chocolate's technique for quick unlatching. He used to take ages for a feed and I think is just more efficient now, so I do need to swap him to 2nd boob or take him off when I think he's done--not give him the opportunity to bite!