How to stop the biting?

[Dreamingsleeper]

The good news is my baby has finally cut his first tooth after weeks of dribbling and broken sleep hurrah! The bad news is he keeps biting down hard when breastfeeding. It’s like feeding a crocodile. He’ll do it unexpectedly when I’m not watching for it and clamp down so hard and pull his head back, pinging my nipple back. He smiles when I gasp or cry out, obviously thinks he’s doing something very clever!

My mother in law has told me to tell him firmly to stop, put him down and then just walk away, cutting short the feed. I tried this a few times but he gets hysterical as though he’s starving. How can I stop this? Is it just a phase? I’m seriously considering stopping breastfeeding over this

Shout Ow! Don’t bite! and stop him feeding. He’ll probably cry. But he’ll realise it’s a bad thing to do and will hopefully stop doing it.

My DS did this (hence the username). If you can, I'd try not to yelp if you can. My DS thought it was very funny and started to do it for the reaction, I know it's hard though!

I dealt with it by unlatching him immediately and giving a firm 'no, no biting' and put the boob away for a few minutes every single time he did it, he didn't like me doing it but he soon learnt that biting = no boob. I don't think it took too long for him to get the message.

Also, try watching him like a HAWK while he feeds as you can often see the bite coming when you've seen it a few times. My DS used to give me a naughty look out of the corner of his eye that 100% said 'I've had a really funny idea...' and I'd unlatch him and have a word before he got the chance to go crocodilian on me.

@shreddednips I think he loves the reaction too! He does this little rascally smile at me when I gasp, as though we’re sharing a very funny joke.

@Glenchasegive thanks I’ll try just putting him down. Here’s hoping he’s a quick learner - I’m not sure my nipples can take it much longer!

Your MiL is right, he won't like it but he'll learn quickly.