6mth old biting-how to wean?

[NEDSMUM]

Hi, my 6mth old has just started biting when I breastfeed him. He has had his 2 bottom teeth for a couple of months now, however has just cut his 4! top teeth. If he's really hungry he doesn't bite, but at the end of a feed he pulls off and when he goes to latch on again, bites. OUCH. Also has started only taking one side and not interested in the other. I'm scared now to feed him. So, I was thinking about maybe starting to wean him to the bottle, however not sure how or where to start!!! First of all, he won't even drink from a bottle. I've tried water, juice and breastmilk. I've also tried a sipper cup (avent) and he just chews on it. He uses a NUK dummy, so I bought some NUK bottles as the teats are similar. I've tried pigeon ones, and avent. Also, yesterday, he wasn't even interested in having a feed until 11am! His feed prior to that was 5am. That was weird. Maybe because he's teething??? He usually has approx 4-5 feeds a day and has all of a sudden started wanting 1-2 at night, 11ish and 3ish. He is on solids 2-3 times a day, but doesn't have much. Very confused!?!?!?:(

[Goosie22]

Hi,
One thing suggested to help discourage bitting is to remove from the breast and leave sit on the floor after a stern " No that hurt mummy" returning them to the breast after a short stint on the floor thinking about what they have done? This helped with my first for a while and then he started again, I read in a LLL book the womanly art of breastfeeding that it is helpful to draw them into the breast uncomfortably instead so they get the message. As for the waking at night it is most probably related to the teething and will ease off when the teeth are finished comming.

[Tea Lady]

Ouch! mine did that too and it really hurts!!

She did stop pretty quickly though, so I'd say unless you're really keen to wean it would be worth persevering. It probably sounds mean, but if my DD really chomped down and wouldn't let go I used to pinch her nose, and she would let go straight away (I obviously didn't pinch her to hurt her, and let go as soon as she did - I wasn't suffocating her!!) and also taking her off and putting her on the floor had some effect (as Goosie already mentioned). I think their teeth feel wierd to them when they come through and it makes them want to bite (and I found that DD was less hungry when teething too) but they do get over it fast. I hope it gets better soon!

[meme]

yes i too have been bitten occasionally, my eight month old bubs has just started and yes is getting her first tooth.
i like offerring her cold teethers to soothe those gums before feeding and i keep a close eye on her ,she will bite if not really hungry but i heard someone say to look out for the glint in her eye, and it's true! i can see her looking mischievious and remove her from the breast before the biting.

[Jo_Jo]

Hi nedsmum,

My ten month old ethan started to bite me at 6 months but i found he only did this when he was cutting a tooth, without haste i would tell him a stern no:shame: and then latch him on again and pull him straight off if he did it again so now i dont have any trouble he has 6 teeth and when he cut the last one i know he wanted to give it a munch but he did,nt.

I have not breastfed since my oldest daughter was born and she is 15 and i disliked breastfeeding and did it untill she was 5 months, i just love it now maybe being older i have more patience.


goodluck, cheers:thumbsup:

[Nan]

Hi,
One thing suggested to help discourage bitting is to remove from the breast and leave sit on the floor after a stern " No that hurt mummy" returning them to the breast after a short stint on the floor thinking about what they have done? This helped with my first for a while and then he started again, I read in a LLL book the womanly art of breastfeeding that it is helpful to draw them into the breast uncomfortably instead so they get the message. As for the waking at night it is most probably related to the teething and will ease off when the teeth are finished comming.

Fantastic advice. Thanks for that.
Love,
Nan. xx

[Goosie22]

Glad this helps, I have to say though that it is done lovingly and and in no way as a "disapline action" it is not like time out. After the stint on the floor which with my son (who was 8 months old) I would picked him up gave him a big cuddle and speak calmly to him about opening his mouth wide and being gentle. Because as a lot of the other mothers have rightly suggested the child can not bite your breasts/nipple if they are correctly attached, so a little Vigilance to attachment while feeding also pays off.:D