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Original poster

12 month old still feeds to sleep and he’s started biting so hard

43 replies

dreamerkr · 31/10/2023 22:11

Hey guys. Really worried over here. My 12 month old DS still feeds to sleep at night and also for his naps. However since the last few days, he’s been biting me a lot. Today, it’s been the worst. It’s so so painful that I feel like crying. I don’t want to tell him off, I said no to him once and he got upset. He doesn’t know how else to fall asleep and I don’t know what to do. As soon as he latches on, he bites me so hard. I’m in so much pain and he’s not falling asleep. He’s with my husband right now who’s trying to make him sleep but he won’t. Please help guys, this is making me really upset that he’s not falling asleep. He’s been awake since 3pm so it’s been 7 hours! And he’s just not falling asleep. I again tried feeding him to sleep 5 mins ago but he bit me so hard straight away and he does it purposely because he laughs after that. 😫 I don’t really want to stop breastfeeding him yet because he’s so used to it and it’s the only way he falls asleep (except for when he’s in the car). Please help 🥺

OP posts:
ohpoowhatnow · 31/10/2023 22:19

No advice but just letting you know I'm going through the exact same thing with my 1 year old. Although I have to admit I do shout, it's so bloody painful!

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 31/10/2023 22:20

He's teething so I'd be giving Calpol or nurofen 20 mins before a feed.

Mamato29192 · 31/10/2023 22:25

What worked for me. I gently flicked his cheek said no biting put him down for 5 mins. It worked

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Original poster
dreamerkr · 31/10/2023 22:27

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 31/10/2023 22:20

He's teething so I'd be giving Calpol or nurofen 20 mins before a feed.

I’m about to give him calpol now. I hope he falls asleep soon, it’s way past his bedtime 🥺 poor boy doesn’t know how else to fall asleep, without me feeding him. I feel so helpless

OP posts:
HamSandwichKiller · 31/10/2023 22:47

If he bites pull him off and set him down. I used to walk away (not necessarily out of the room), they have to learn not to bite or it's no more boob.

Original poster
dreamerkr · 31/10/2023 23:10

He’s still awake and just crying because he’s so tired and he can’t fall asleep without me feeding him. I keep trying but he’s just biting me so hard and I don’t know what to do 🥺 he doesn’t take a bottle at all.

OP posts:
H4nn4h786 · 31/10/2023 23:11

Hi all,
So ive had my 4th child after 13 years and shes 7 months old now. Im breastfeeding but maternity runs out in December! Ive tried different bottles and she can drink from them. Im giving her formula but she doesnt like it and refuses it. Someone please advise how they have gone from breast to formula because i cant bear to watch her cry to sleep when i dont give the breast!

JessieLongleg · 31/10/2023 23:20

Mine did that and laughed. I said no biting and put him down. It took a bit for it to stop. Now (16months) he bites by mistake due to the angle or falling asleep so I tell him and relatch and that helps. It really hurts for sure I'm always watching him so he doesn't fall asleep and relaxes and bites. I find pulling away will either wake him up to finish or he just gives up and sleeps.

catsnore · 31/10/2023 23:48

Give teething gel/teether/Calpol before feed. When he bites, pull him in closer- kind of suffocate him with your boob. It makes them slacken off! If that fails, say no biting and unlatch him by sticking your finger in the corner of his mouth. You'll need to do it a few times before he'll get the message. Good luck!

booksandbrooks · 01/11/2023 00:15

I remember this stage, I was advised to say react by saying "ow"/"ouch" etc and immediately put the boob away or put little one down. They do soon learn not too.

TinyTeacher · 01/11/2023 08:21

It's not uncommon, although it sounds particularly bad in your case.

They like to investigate cause and affect at the age. So they bite to see what happens - does it make mummy make a noise? Just keep unlatching and calmly (I know it's hard! One of mine was a biter when teething for aaaaages....) say "no biting". Then let them relatch. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. They get the idea that the effect is always the same (so not interesting) and not something they want. So they stop.

I've fed my 3 to sleep until well past this age. I'm a great fan of it if it's working for you. But maybe do try some gentle alternatives of its not working? I can't see an easy transition from breastfeeding straight to DH settling them, that way sounds quite fraught. Maybe start with naps? You can introduce other props to help them to start with as well. My boys learned to have a dummy, so I'd feed them till the were nearly out and then switch and carry on with cuddle/rocking/singing until they were out, then gradually move dummy earlier in proceedings (caveat: did NOT work with my eldest!!!). They learned to very easily settle with dummy when I wasn't around. Motion can also help - I used to feed eldest before she was quite due her nap, then get her in the pram/sling/car seat and IMMEDIATELY set off. Took a little while the first few times, but again, she soon made the association. My 3 have all done all naps for my DMum in the pram, as that's her preferred way of settling them.

In the meantime, look after yourself! Make sure that if you get broken skin that you are keeping it clean and letting it dry - you'll need to get air to it, awkward as that sounds. You do NOT want to get an infection.

QuestionableMouse · 01/11/2023 08:26

Try him with a dummy? Or pump and offer him milk in a bottle instead?

Original poster
dreamerkr · 01/11/2023 12:09

Nothing seems to be working 🥺

OP posts:
Original poster
dreamerkr · 01/11/2023 12:17

He bites as soon as he latches on, before he even starts feeding. Will nipple shields help at all?

OP posts:
RedSnowflake · 01/11/2023 12:29

I ended up with a partially amputated nipple as a result of 12mo DS biting and then pulling his head back. He also didn’t take a bottle.

I had no choice but to abruptly stop breastfeeding. He went straight to cows milk from a sippy cup. No more feeding to sleep. DH started doing the bedtime routine to break the association and we used the CC method. Took 3 days to get into the new routine, and a course of antibiotics to sort my resulting mastitis out.

honestly, I would just stop breastfeeding. You’ve done a brilliant job, but enough is enough.

Mamato29192 · 01/11/2023 12:31

dreamerkr · 01/11/2023 12:17

He bites as soon as he latches on, before he even starts feeding. Will nipple shields help at all?

No harm in trying 😊

Original poster
dreamerkr · 01/11/2023 12:37

RedSnowflake · 01/11/2023 12:29

I ended up with a partially amputated nipple as a result of 12mo DS biting and then pulling his head back. He also didn’t take a bottle.

I had no choice but to abruptly stop breastfeeding. He went straight to cows milk from a sippy cup. No more feeding to sleep. DH started doing the bedtime routine to break the association and we used the CC method. Took 3 days to get into the new routine, and a course of antibiotics to sort my resulting mastitis out.

honestly, I would just stop breastfeeding. You’ve done a brilliant job, but enough is enough.

What should I do though if DS won’t drink from a bottle or sippy cup at all?

OP posts:
Batbatbatty · 01/11/2023 12:39

dreamerkr · 01/11/2023 12:37

What should I do though if DS won’t drink from a bottle or sippy cup at all?

Show quote history

What does he drink water out of?

Mia2468 · 01/11/2023 12:43

I experienced this when my DD was 13 months old. At the time she had a nap after lunch. I was advised to follow this routine. I put her in her cot wide awake and left the room. She stood up and was crying. After 2 minutes I went back to lay her down - but did not speak at all. I repeated this 7 times and finally she fell asleep. It felt like an absolute age.
That evening I did it twice and she fell asleep. After that I never had a problem. Always put her in bed awake and no more tears. I stopped feeding her then, but by 13 months she was having real food anyway and was only using me as a dummy to get herself to sleep.
If I'd have known how quickly she'd adjust I would have done it sooner

MrsPatrickDempsey · 01/11/2023 12:46

@dreamerkr
He will have to learn to drink out of something other than a breast at some point. Straws can be a fun way to introduce a cup or those no spill beakers.

APurpleSquirrel · 01/11/2023 13:05

My 2 DC did this a few times when they were around 6months, & had teeth. I'd take them straight off, put them on the floor & tell them 'no biting'.
The feeding to sleep we stopped around 4-6 months by gradually transitioning them to a bottle of formula, then to cows milks. But we were combi-feeding so they were used to bottles.
If your DC is continuing to do this at each feed maybe you do need to consider stopping breastfeeding? They're 1 now, so can move on to cows milk & should be getting much more of their nutrition from food than milk.
What do they drink other drinks from? Cups? Bottles?

Original poster
dreamerkr · 01/11/2023 13:14

Batbatbatty · 01/11/2023 12:39

What does he drink water out of?

Show quote history

He does drink water from a sippy cup but not any milk

OP posts:
Mossstitch · 01/11/2023 13:50

It doesn't matter if he won't drink milk out of a sippy cup, my first didn't like milk and I stopped breastfeeding him at 10 months when he was losing interest in it and he bit. Just ensure his diet includes cheese & full fat yoghurt (for the A & D vitamins in the fat) and if concerned he's not drinking enough my milk disliker enjoyed watered down pure apple juice. He's a strapping adult now with perfect teeth.

Cyclistmumgrandma · 01/11/2023 14:19

When mine bit, I did as has been previously suggested. Straight off the boob, put down and walk away. No talking to them or eye contact and left the room. I would come back after a few minutes and try again. Rinse and repeat. They soon learned.

Original poster
dreamerkr · 02/11/2023 09:52

He was crying all night and screaming but refusing to feed 🥺 and he couldn’t fall asleep without it. He probably slept for 4-5 hours total. I feel so upset because he’s just refusing to feed now and I don’t know what to do.

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