Am I Done?

[jennjabean]

DD is just over 15 months. She started biting me at around 10-11months and has been consistently getting worse since then. She's constantly drawing blood, and I've got hte stains on my shirts and bra's to prove it.

It's not just a nip here or there, its not out of frustration - she simply finds it funny. I've tried a few different methods mentioned by other mommies and noted dr's etc. - and was consistant with eacho for at least 3 weeks, and nothing seems to work. The pulling her off and setting her down jus tmakes her laugh and run off ot play. Pushing her into my breast just makes her bite down and grind more, until I'm in such unbearable pain(of course within seconds) that I nearly throw her off me, and trying to teach her and talk to her about pain and how it hurts mommy doesnt work.

I've never laughed when she's bitten me, and I've done the few tricks of 1. no reaction and 2. realistic or overreaction. Nothing seems to be working.

Over teh past 3 days I've tried 1-2 minute "time-outs" with her in the hallway, but thats just proven to be completely useless. She screams and cries to the point where she eventually finds it funny- no matter how long we're sitting there.

I do babysigns with her, and I've continuously used the signs for both pain and sorry. She knows most of her signs very well, especially please, thank you, and help. She hasn't caught onto pain, but she knows the word and reacts to it when SHE is in pain. I tried teaching her a variation of Sorry with the time-outs, so she could appropriately "sign" that she means it etc etc and have kisses and cuddles(she seems a bit too young for this, but she does know what teh word means, or at least the appropriate time to use it).

I'm at the point now where I cringe when she wants to nurse, and am constantly paranoid she's going to bite. I even keep my finger close by just in case, so I can release her asap because my nipples are THAT sore and raw even an extra second or two means hours of pain.

I was so fed up last night I ended up putting her in her cot and just sitting on teh floor next to her crying, while she screamed and had no idea what was going on. She did fall asleep on her own, but I'm sure thats from being heartbroken and confused, and extremely exhausted.

I don't want to wean, and I know she doesnt want to - she hardly eats solid foods, I just don't know how to show her I'm serious about it and have her react to that. I'm at a huge loss as to what I should do as everything I've tried seems to make it worse.

I don't know what else I can do besides wean her, which seems to me more like a nonoption than an option...

Jenn

[Tam-I-Am]

I'm not really sure of answers here, this is partly a sympathy post (:hugs:) and partly a tossing up ideas post....

Is she asking for a breastfeed? Or do you have breastfeeds at certain times of the day? If its the former, I'd take it as a learning opportunity and start talking to her about it from the very next feed that you have with her ie "Mummy's breasts (boobies, bitty, whatever it is that you call them!) hurt because you keep biting her, so if you bite her during this feed, you won't be able to have (boobie, milk, bitty etc)", then when she bites IMMEDIATELY remove her, whilst telling her "Remember what mummy said about not biting? No more boobie, you HURT mummy!" (emphasise the HURT with your voice AND the sign for pain).

Do that everytime. If it continues, quite frankly I'd say that she's not really hungry, and she's just playing with your breasts, so start restricting her feed times a little - ie only before naps, or only 3 times a day or something of that nature. You might find she starts eating more solid food too, and you can stop worrying on that front.

I'd also get in touch with the Australian Breastfeeding Association, because I've seen in the past that they have literature on toddlers biting - if you're going through this, somebody else has before too!

:hugs: hugs to you - its so hard to know what to do, isn't it!

[babyluv3]

Oh how awful for you, Im sending you hugs to!!:hugs:

All of my bubs have bitten, every now and then, but not to your extent.

The only thing I can think of is, is she teething? Have you tried rubbing teething gel on her gums before a feed, or panadol?

I was also wondering if you bought a nipple shield from the chemist, and tried putting that on during the feed, maybe the different taste/texture might be enough to deter her, maybe explain that you have to wear it because she bites (I cant remember how much they understand at that age, my kids are 8, 5 and 7mths)

I also think contacting the ABA is a good idea. Im sure there's an answer out there that will work for you.

Goodluck. :fingerscrossed: