XP: Vent re biting while BFing

catsinawindow · January 2012

Ugh, today was the worst day yet for DS's biting (he started biting occasionally while nursing when he got his first tooth two weeks ago).

He nursed just fine first thing in the morning, but bit me when I tried to feed him just before leaving for work. I figured it was b/c he wasn't hungry and packed him up without BFing.

This afternoon, I picked him up from daycare, went home and played with him/prepared dinner until he started acting cranky and hungry. Tried to feed him, but all he did was bite so I decided to try again in a few min. Maybe 30 min later, I try again, and again he bites.

I always nurse him around 8PM as part of bedtime routine, so I figured that he'd certainly nurse then...nope! He sucks a few times, then bites, but I persist b/c I really want him to get some milk before he goes to bed. But then he bites again, and again, and it's hurting more each time. And then he bites so hard that I'm bleeding and I've got a huge gash on my nipple. So I give him to DH and DH puts him to bed.

So now he's asleep but hasn't had any real amount of breastmilk for 7 hours or so. He'll probably be up all night wanting to nurse to make up for it. Someone please tell me this will get better :-/ Anyone else experiencing this? Any advice to give?

Vent over.

mrebecca · January 2012

Abigail usually only bites when her gums are hurting.
So I give her Orajel, and we both are happier.

tprochaska · January 2012

I don't have any advice, but wanted to say I'm dealing with the same thing. My daughter decided tonight that she only wanted to bite, even though I knew she was hungry. After a couple of tries to get her to nurse, I stopped before she bit me hard enough to bleed. I had to give her a bottle and put her to bed afterwards. Hope she nurses in the morning.

AimeeL85 · January 2012

DS did basically the same thing right after getting his first two teeth. It lasted about 3 days and I could barely nurse him at all, all he did was bite. I was worried it would only get worse, but he stopped after the 3 days (that was 6 months ago). I really hope it's over quickly for you, too! I wish I had some advice but I really didn't find anything in particular worked to get him to stop, thankfully he did on his own.

Mrs.EmmaLouise · January 2012

If she bites, I take her off and end the session. Usually she bites if she isn't hungry, and doesn't seem to want to nurse again soon after. She does it more when she is teething, so at those times I just try to pay attention to if she is actually hungry, or if she is close to finishing nursing. Certainly don't keep at it if she keeps biting, that sounds like torture.

SecondTimeinMSU · January 2012

Ugh this us too, I am amazed that you could keep going after he bit you hard enough to bleed. DS was doing this to me last night and he only got three strikes though fortunutely on the third try he actually latched and didn't bite me. I was feeling bad like it might be due to my low supply but I guess it is pretty common. I am hoping it is just a passing phase

walkercpa · January 2012

YIKES!! I wish I had some good advice. DS has had his two bottom teeth for a few weeks but just got a top one, and bit me for the first time last night. I took him off, flicked him in the nose, and said very firmly, "no biting." Then I switched him to the other side and he did ok there. Then he did basically the same thing this morning, but not as hard. Here's hoping we all get through this SOON.

catsinawindow · January 2012

First Time in MI:
Ugh this us too, I am amazed that you could keep going after he bit you hard enough to bleed. DS was doing this to me last night and he only got three strikes though fortunutely on the third try he actually latched and didn't bite me. I was feeling bad like it might be due to my low supply but I guess it is pretty common. I am hoping it is just a passing phase

Actually, once I was bleeding, we were done, lol.

Thanks everyone for the advice (and moral support). I might have to go out and get some teething gel. I haven't used it yet, but it probably is his gums bothering him.

He did get up at midnight last night to nurse to make up for not nursing all evening and both his nighttime wakings were good. No biting. This morning he bit once when I nursed him just before we left, but it was still so much better than anytime yesterday.

I hope we all get through this quickly. I also hope my battered nipple will heal quickly, it's sore as heck today.

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XP: Vent re biting while BFing

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