biting!

Re: biting!

• Crequito member

  March 2014

  I didn't make it as far as you have with BFing (congrats and good job!!) but DD did start biting my shoulders and chest and arms once she had a few teeth.  She mostly did it when she was sleepy and she left a few bruises.  The first few times I screamed and pulled her off of me - my immediate reaction obviously - and DD got scared and cried.  Now I can usually tell when she's about to bite me so I gently pull her back and say "No biting" in a firm, calm, low tone.  The pedi suggested a lower tone voice since my usual tone of voice with DD is very happy.

  One thing my pedi said that I've tried to keep in mind is that DD is getting used to having teeth.  As new teeth come in she'll try to bite again since it's something new but as I keep making it clear that biting is not ok then she'll eventually stop.  Good luck, hopefully someone with experience BFing a biter will weigh in as well.

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• LifesGoodMom member

  March 2014

  My ds (10.5 months) was biting while nursing when his most recent tooth came in. It was his eighth tooth and he hadn't bit me with the others so I think it's a combination of the age and teething pain. It lasted a few weeks and then he stopped. I was miserable during it with open bite wounds on each nipple but am fine now. For us, me recognizing when he was about to bite or likely to bite (overtired, full, bored) and ending the session before biting occurred was our best bet. Giving him a small stuffed animal to play with while nursing helped. Also, a finger between his gums to break the bite was more effective than pulling him towards my breast since he would sometimes just bite harder if I did that. If I felt like he wasn't able to nurse enough during the day I would nurse him extra after he was asleep since he wouldn't bite then. He doesn't take a bottle so pumping wasn't an option for us.

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