Struggling with biting 😣

[Firsttimemum1203]

My 14 month old is going through another phase of biting whilst feeding. It’s happened before and I think Co insides with when he’s teething but it feels so much more painful now he’s got 8 teeth.
I feel anxious when putting him on the breast now and am starting to flinch anticipating the bite.
I take him off the breast when he does it and he says ‘No’ so I know he understands not to, but as soon as he’s back on he does it again!
My nipples are especially sore this morning from being bit on all night and I just don’t know what to do.
I can’t just refuse to breastfeed him can I? since I know since he’s teething it’s even more of a comfort but I just don’t want to do it anymore.

There is nothing wrong with stopping altogether if it’s time, the pain can really get you down. If you don’t want to stop entirely can you stop the night feeds? And is it definitely biting or has he developed a bad latch or position that’s making it uncomfortable?

I have a 2 year old I’m still breastfeeding and I’m pregnant, so I’m quite sore and she doesn’t even bite. I try to distract her so I don’t have to feed as often. I also take paracetamol once or twice a day and it takes the edge off. I have occasionally wondered whether it’s time to stop but I’m not there yet.

i know it’s hard though, the most uncomfortable breastfeeding has ever been for me was when my baby was ill- I wanted to stop at the time when she wanted it more than ever!

You can absolutely stop. He's old enough he'll be eating solids and getting nutrition from those.

At least give yourself a couple of days of respite. Express if you want/need but give your nipples a chance to heal.

Put on anbesol or similar on his teeth before you give him a feed. You can even put it on your nipple too just to numb it a bit.

Could try freezing a tether and giving him that before feeding

Keep saying no and remove him

Distract him when feeding, tickle his face, smile at him, sing

Of course you can refuse to breastfeed him if it's hurting you or tbh for any other reason, it's your body and he will cope.

I would stop if he won’t stop. I can’t stop as mine’s five months 😭 Having some luck with nipple shields, though. Silver cups for healing.

If you don’t want to do it any more, stop. You’ll be happier, he’ll forget within days.

Thank you all. I definitely want to stop, and have done for a while now. Just struggled with finding the willpower to do so, especially since he is boob obsessed and asks for it several times a day!
I think, however, that this recent bout of biting will really help me be persistent with stopping altogether.

@Muu it is definitely biting his latch is fine most of the time but at the moment his molars are cutting through so I think that’s why he’s doing it maybe?
He will laugh when I express I’m in pain 🤣so yeah he defo understands and thinks it’s funny.

I really would stop.

BFing DD1 became excruciatingly painful when she was about 2. The older they are the harder they are to wean, so I wouldn’t leave it until any problems are worse.

Now BFing newborn DD2, and I’ll probably aim to stop before 1 to avoid needing to stop in a difficult situation.

@Infusionist thank you for giving me that motivation. I really can’t imagine it being any more painful than it is right now. I think it’s time, I’m just anxious about how he will react but like you said, it will only get worse the older he is.
Congratulations on your new baby btw! I hope you are doing okay x

If you want to stop, then stop.
I night weaned by moving DD into her own room and sent DH in every time she woke. By the third night she gave up.
Wear clothes that cover you up and your little one can't access.
Just tell them that there's no more milk (or whatever term you use). Offer cuddles but not the breast. There will be complaining but it will pass. Have lots of good distractions on hand.
You might need to hand express to be comfortable until your supply stops.
Well done for feeding this long.

I breastfed until 9 months but stopped because my DS would bite me. I took him off breast and said no but he just laughed. I expressed and gave him breast milk in a sippy cup which he took to.