Almost 6 month old biting...ouch!

[gobucks1013]

My sweet baby boy is teething. In fact, his 2 bottom teeth are already sprouting through his gums. This past weekend he gave me a good chomp and I about died. It was totally unexpected and as a reflex, I yelped. My yelp startled DS and out came the pouty lip and a big scream after that. I felt horrible that I scared him, but it hurt so bad. He didn't break the skin, but my nipple is still sore from it. Now I find myself really paranoid about getting bit again every time I nurse him.

What are some good tips for nipping this biting in the bud? I don't want to dread BFing now that I have entered the world of teething/teeth!

[whitnessforhim]

I have no advice as my DD is 8mo. and still no teeth...but your post made me LOL..sorry..

I'm sure someone around here has some good ideas though!

[Cathy]

DD is 6.5 months now and I noticed her biting me at the end of feedings at about 5 months, a couple of weeks before her first two teeth came in.

For a couple of days, I'd delatch her when she slowed down and no longer looked interested in eating. I could tell when she had that spaced out, I'm bored and I want to bite you look. Somehow she learned that if she tries to bite me, I won't let her nurse.

That being said, she did get me again last week, and it really hurts now that she has teeth. So I'm back to watching her like a hawk. Good luck!

[dodoe80]

The things I have heard (my DS is teething too but no teeth) are to watch them. Usually you will get bit at the end of the feeding when your child is full, or at the beginning when you are latching them on. If it is at the end try to delatch them before they bite. Or if they bite you before you delatch them take them off and tell them "No bite" "Be nice to mama" or whoever you want to say it. Wait about 30 seconds and then retry nursing or switch sides if they are still hungry. If they are no longer hungry then end the feeding. If they are biting when you are latching them on then go back to the basic positions and holds and work on the latching on. I've heard that is suppose to help. I've heard that when they are actively feeding that they cannot bite you because of how they remove the milk.

Stateing all that I have no idea how I will react when my DS gets his teeth. He started chomping on me at 3 months. (He is 4 1/2 months now.) He isn't doing it so much now but I did have some really sore nipples. What I did was end the feeding because he was doing it at the end of the feeding when he was basicly done.

Here is a link maybe it will help:


http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/biting.html

Good luck.

[vickikreiner]

Don't feel bad about your reaction. That's normal! He needs to know mommy does not like that. ITA with anticipating end of feed and take him off before he bites as this usually happens towards end of feeding.

[Nipple_nectar]

Sometimes baby will bite as a result of a changing latch as new teeth emerge. It is usually a temporary thing but you need to be careful of your response. Some babies enjoy that shocking reaction and do it again just to see you scream~ouch!

I agree that most will do it out of boredom when they are nursing and not really hungry. You will see a pause and baby must move her tongue out of the way in order to bite. This is when I promptly end the session and I never raise my voice, even when she does make contact.

A nursing necklace will help with a distractible baby and if you suspect it is teething, you need to address that to minimize baby wanting to teethe on you!

I give my DD2 frozen fruit in the mesh feeder and give her at least twenty minutes to gnaw on something cold before a session and this really helps.

For nipple soreness or pain, I highly recommend a pair of silverette from www.breastfeedingheaven.com