Hair pulling and Nipple biting....HELP!

[Born_a_Diva]

Ok...dd is 7 months and she got her first teeth a few weeks ago and having teeth is so cool for her because she's using them.. A LOT.

She bites my nipples from time to time and I can't help but yell out in pain. How do you break them from nipple biting at this age. I'm sooo afraid of what will happen when the top teeth come in!

Also, she's really into hair pulling and she pulls handfuls out. I don't have much to begin with especially since I shed enough post-partum to make a wig. She laughs when she tugs hair. What has worked for you ladies?

[Nipple_nectar]

It sounds like you need a nursing necklace to help keep babys interest while nursing, baby enjoys fingering the different shapes and studying the different colors while nursing.

Also, it sounds like your baby is using you as a teether~ouch! To avoid this, make sure you give baby a minimum of twenty minutes to gnaw on something frozen: frozen fruit in a mesh feeder, frozen breastmilk cube in the mesh feeder, or a frozen bagel will help minimize the teething. Make sure and provide something for possible pain relief like Hylands, as well.

[momoffive]

What I did with both of my bf children is take the nipple out of their mouth and say no biting. It will take a few tries, but she will eventually learn that she loses her dinner when she bites down on it. I don't like putting the baby down when they bite cause they don't need to be punished, just taught.

I've never had a problem with hair pulling, but I'm sure this same concept would work. Gently take her hand off the hair and tell her, without expression, that hurts mommy. If she gets a rise out of you or a laugh, she will enjoy seeing that what she does gets a big reaction. If she gets no reaction, she will get bored of it.

That's just what I'm thinking. I hope it helps. ;-)

[Babyblue]

saying whenever she bites and take her off the boob for a min may help.

I had to wear my hair up every time I nursed for months, and then ds just starting honking my nose instead.

[PeacefulMom]

When my DS was biting I would remove him from the breast and set him down, he was sitting up by then and say No biting firmly. he would of course cry which broke my heart and then I'd pick him up and relatch him. I only had to do it a few times and he got the message. I still feel bad though but I doubt it scarred him

And I agree with NN that a nursing necklace is in order. I made my own for my DS with cheap beads and strong hemp thread. But you can buy them hand made by wohms with a lot of style, like you can wear them out in public and stuff.

[mandeloo]

with my dd I would just take the breast out of her mouth for a few seconds, relatch and if she did it again then I would take it out again but I did not say anything. She did not do it alot, or maybe I just got used to it. I do know that my newest baby, my ds is very "sensitive" and if I break the latch for any reason whatsoever he gets angry with me and refuses to nurse for like, the next 45 mins to 1 hr. SOOOO touchy! lol Some babies just can't be rattled at all or they get all wonky.
My advice would be take the breast out of her mouth, wait and put it back in. Technically they can't get milk if they bite so it should not last long.

Hey where do I get a nursing necklace? I think I need one. DS is almost 5 months and gets very irritated if I take him away from playtime to nurse.

[MommytoLuke]

Chloe just did this for the first time on Friday! I did the same thing as everyone suggested: Took her off and sat her down and said, "NO biting!" It was hard cause she was crying and I was crying, but after three times (three times too many! It hurt!) she stopped. It's now Monday and she hasn't bit me again. Actually, it wasn't really biting. It was clamp down and pull off. It was terrible. My nipple was sore all weekend, but she didn't do it again!

[Nipple_nectar]

with my dd I would just take the breast out of her mouth for a few seconds, relatch and if she did it again then I would take it out again but I did not say anything. She did not do it alot, or maybe I just got used to it. I do know that my newest baby, my ds is very "sensitive" and if I break the latch for any reason whatsoever he gets angry with me and refuses to nurse for like, the next 45 mins to 1 hr. SOOOO touchy! lol Some babies just can't be rattled at all or they get all wonky.
My advice would be take the breast out of her mouth, wait and put it back in. Technically they can't get milk if they bite so it should not last long.

Hey where do I get a nursing necklace? I think I need one. DS is almost 5 months and gets very irritated if I take him away from playtime to nurse.

You can check out the classified section here on the boards: http://www.breastfeeding.com/social/listing/view/id_6/title_nursing-necklaces/

Or just google, there are many styles available:hugegrin:

[SingingMom]

If you have a biter, keep a finger close to her mouth- you can sneak that finger in as soon as she starts to chomp, which will hurt your finger, but not as much as it hurts your nipple.

Also, consider a dose of Tylenol or Motrin. It sounds like she's still teething, and if the teething pain goes down a bit, so will your struggle.