He's biting me!

[kalebsmummy]

I'm hoping someone can help me!!

I have an almost-7mth old (6mth old corrected as he was born premature) and so far the breastfeeding was going great!

Since yesterday my son Kaleb has started chomping down on my nipple whenever I go to feed him! He's got no teeth (yet) so is it a teething thing? It seems he thinks of it as a bit of a game .... little face staring up at me as he tugs and pulls at my nipple. It really hurts :no:

Because he's so little, is there any point in me saying "NO!" quite forcefully when I break his latch? I don't think he understands what the word means yet! I can't think of any other ideas apart from taking him off the breast and putting him on the playmat for a while - I thought maybe he was in play mode and it would be what he wants. He cried! He IS hungry so where do I go from here?

I'm desperate for some suggestions on how to stop this from happening again! :banghead:

[miss_moe]

Gosh my DD bit me once ... about the same age with no teeth and it took my breath away. Thankfully it was only once - but I feel your pain.

Here are some links you might find useful

When baby bites (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/biting.html)
ABA - biting (http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/biting.html)

[bigglet]

My 7th month old has bitten me a few times and grinned at me while doing so! :eek: So basically when she did it I did the deep grrr and frowned at her and then put my breast away. When she plays up then feed time is over and she has now responded to that.

The first time she bit me I got such a fright that I yelped and that in turn startled her - I think she is beginning to realise that when she bites she gets a negative reaction. Usually when she bites it is at the end of a feed so that's why I end up putting the breast away.

oh - BTW my bub got her bottom teeth at 5 1/2 months and even though she may not understand the word "no" she recognises the tone of my voice being different and realises that mummy is not happy when she bites. It's the deeper lower tone that they respond to - bit like disciplining dogs :D

[becca74]

Although your son doesnt have teeth yet, usually the biting means that it wont be long!

Try rubbing bongela (or similar brand) onto his gums before each feed, as this should numb the buzzing sensation he is getting from his little toothie pegs rumbling under his gums. I have done this with all my boys when they started to bite my nipple, and it has always worked.

I have also, on occasions where they were bitey and grisly and getting hot and bothered from it, given them a bit of panadol to stop the irritation in the gums.

[Lunar]

I don't really have any advise but I do know how you feel.
That wa how Kailah fed, she would chomp and chomp and chomp:banghead: I would be in agony the whol hour she was trying to feed.
I hope you find something that works for the both of you.
Good Luck!:hugs:

[Natsmummy]

My 7th month old has bitten me a few times and grinned at me while doing so! :eek:

I feel your pain - my little boy (almost 7 months) has been doing this at least once a day for several months now. I do quite forcefully say "NO you're hurting mummy" but he obviously doesn't take me seriously because when I say this he usually just breaks into fits of giggles! He's just got one of his bottom teeth through so its pretty painful, but I want to keep breastfeeding so I just put up with it. At least he hasn't broken the skin yet.

[Funkychicken]

My 9 month old is doing a bit of this too so I'll keep my eye on this thread for some strategies that work to stop it! :D

[sonlou73]

been there! with DS#1 he started gumming me at 6 months, i would gently put my finger in between his mouth & my boob for him to stop, he kept it up when his teeth came along & weak me couldn't take the pain so i stopped breastfeeding him at 7 months.

DS#2, is 10.5 months. he started nipping me 2 months ago & he only does it when his had enough which is once every few weeks & i sense when its going to happen so i'm ready for it!

[bigglet]

When my baby is really hungry for my milk I find she doesn't bite or use me as her personal teething toy - her tongue covers up her teeth when breastfeeding so it is only when she plays up that I put my breast away. When she is really hungry she is too busy gulping down as much milk as she can and when I detect that she's had enough I now put my breast away before she can even _think_ about having a chew! :p

[sueliz]

I do quite forcefully say "NO you're hurting mummy" but he obviously doesn't take me seriously because when I say this he usually just breaks into fits of giggles! .

Oh this made me giggle as it sounds like something my DS would do!!

I agree with Becca74, try giving some teething gel when your DS starts to chomp and see if this helps.
And every time he 'bites', there is no harm in taking him off while firmly saying 'no' and perhaps this way he will learn that if he keeps doing this, the feed stops.. I personally think these bubs are much smarter then we will ever know - after all they know how charm us and play us and turn on the charm when people admire them!!

[priya]

hi,

Thanks heaps for the websites miss_moe.