Biting - I've tried everything

jesuisfatiguee

I am at my wits end. DS has 7 teeth (4 on top, 3 on bottom) and started biting while nursing around 8 months. It was frequent for awhile, but eventually dwindled down to occasionally. I haven't been able to get him to stop entirely, though. I've tried crying out in pain (which is actually a reflex because he bites so hard), saying, "no bitting, that hurts!" and ending the nursing session abruptly. Getting up and walking away don't always work because we bedshare, and I'm afraid he'd just wiggle off the edge of the bed after me if I did that. But he started using biting occasionally as a way to tell me he was finished or didn't want to nurse rather than just unlatching and turning his head when I offer. Though lately, he'll bite even though he's hungry and get upset when I stop nursing him. 

I guess my question is, when did your LO stop biting altogether? Do I just need to wait it out a little longer? It hurts so much, I find myself getting really angry when it happens. I know he doesn't understand what he's doing, but I can't take it. If he actually took a bottle or other form of feeding from me (he only drinks when it's someone else) I would be tempted to stop BFing completely. I'm sorry for the ramble, I just want someone to tell me there's a light at the end of the tunnel  

SidraJedi

Hi, girl!

Here's my story:
DD had started biting only when she was teething (I think, so it seemed). I would not react, unlatch and end the nursing session. This would put her off of it for a day, until she was too tired to help herself or at least sometimes until her next round of tooth pain started. It was frustrating. I came on here and asked for suggestions. One woman replied that her Lamaze teacher said to scream as loud as you can and the LO will never do it again.
The next time DD bit, we were laying down to nurse on the bed. When she bit, I screamed loud (but not at her). She BAWLED. I felt horrible. I gave her back her milk and she bit again. I yelped (not loud this time, just my natural reaction). She bawled again. I gave her back her milk, she was all snotty and teary now and she bit again. I yelped again. She bawled again. Repeat once or twice more until I realized that she was too tired and too upset to stop biting me.
I picked her up and hugged her and rubbed her back and calmed her down. When she was calmer and feeling better I lay down with her and tried nursing her again. She nursed, didn't bite and fell asleep. It was the next day or maybe the next when she bit again. This time I yelped maybe only slightly exaggerated but not LOUD. She cried but when I offered her the breast again she didn't bite. She didn't fall asleep at that nursing session either. She was alert this time. Maybe this same thing happened once more. She hasn't bit me since. :::knocks on wood::: I mean to say that she has bitten me (on the thigh, shirt, shoulder). I don't think that she can help it, but she hasn't bitten me while nursing since. I am so relieved.

But, it doesn't happen for everyone that way. It has been 30 years since MIL nursed DH, but she claims to have tried everything and he never stopped. She nursed him over a year and he would bite her every once in a while and then laugh.

I really hope you get some relief soon! GL

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YellowLily2013

I'm not there yet... But I sure hope there is light at the end of the tunnel for you!!

jesuisfatiguee

JandACoffee said:

DD has bit me a few times, but I would pull in and she would startle just a bit and unlatch. I think I saw that suggestion on Kellymom actually. When you pull in it blocks their nose so they can't breath for a second. They automatically unlatch and don't like it. To me it seems less abrupt than screaming at her and was more effective than setting her down because often times she bit and wasn't really hungry anymore so she didn't care. DD has had 6 teeth for a while now and will be 13 months next week. We still nurse frequently and she very very rarely ever bites and there is usually a random reason. Like I shift positions and she accidentally bites or she starts laughing about something while still latched and accidentally.  Have you read the Kellymom article on it? https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/biting/

That article was very helpful, thank you!