Biting and nursing

Cormelbaby · May 2014

So my soon to be 4 month old (tomorrow!) has now taken to biting (more like gumming) me while nursing. It's usually towards the end or when he's almost asleep. Everytime he does it I yell ouch really loud, de-latch him and say "no bite". I swear it's like I'm yelling at the dog. Anyways, it worked for awhile but now he thinks it's funny. Anyone else going through this? Advice?

CopperT0p · May 2014

Isaac is doing the same and is close in age. I do pretty much what you do. I say "ouch", unlatch him and flip up the flap on my bra then say "no biting, it hurts mum". I then wait a minute then offer it again and repeat this if he bites again. I did the same with DS1 and he stopped biting pretty quick.

SJSLA · May 2014

DD is 13 weeks and has been doing this the past few days. She only does this on my left boob. It's usually towards the end of the feed and she bites hard and twists my nipple. Ouch!

TheBorg7of9 · May 2014

This happened with my first. For me, A better tactic was just to watch him very closely and remove him from the breast when he delatched. When they delatch is when they can bite. Kellymom has a good article on it. I just had to stop watching tv and playing on the phone and just watch him very closely. It was just a phase for a couple weeks.

MamaP19 · May 2014

https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/biting/

I completely understand unlatching and taking a break, but I find it strange to scold an infant. If I yelled near DS he would be in tears instantly. I guess it's just NMS.

Cormelbaby · May 2014

Thanks everyone! I will try just delatching him without reaction. Although it will be hard, he had me in tears today he clamped down so hard!

NenaMarie84 · May 2014

Mine started doing this too. When I stop her and say no she smiles. So hard not to laugh!

MiaMyPuggle · May 2014

I went through it with my DS. I stopped nursing at 10 mo bc of it. When he got teeth, it was terribly painful. I would delatch, tell him, do not bite, and start feeding again. I knew he was going to do it when he stopped eating, smiled, and chomped down...too late to delatch bc he would scrape his teeth on my nipple. I tried everything. He went on soy formula after that.

chicki1012 · May 2014

Yeah mine doesn't bite but pulls on my nipple and moves his head around like he's mad cause my boob is emptying out. Then I go to other side. But it's sooo annoying and kind of uncomfortable

chicki1012 · May 2014

MamaP19 said:
https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/biting/

I completely understand unlatching and taking a break, but I find it strange to scold an infant. If I yelled near DS he would be in tears instantly. I guess it's just NMS.

That's a good read, good info.

bensmommy518 · May 2014

Kiwi110 said:

I've read and heard from my pedi that if it happens, try not to react (it's hard because damn does it hurt!) and just unlatch, saying firmly 'no biting' or something like that if you want to - not raising your voice, just stating firmly, and end the nursing session, at least for a few minutes. Mine has also done it towards the end of nursing or when she's falling asleep while nursing, so I try to watch and unlatch her if I think she might bite, but so far I've had good luck with the non-reaction and ending the nursing session. That way they don't end up thinking your reaction is funny, since they're pre-verbal and don't cognitively understand hurting people yet.

This exactly. Any reaction will make them want to do it again. Removing something positive (the boob) will discourage the behavior. When DS started biting (he was older) I did this and put him on the floor and walked into the other room for a min. He stopped biting pretty fast

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