Nursing questions..(biting and opinions on how long nursing should last?)

Allison - posted on 03/29/2010

I really like the book "Mothering Your Nursing Toddler" by Norma Jane Bumgarner. It's great, inspiring, and helpful with figuring out how to make nursing work for you both as they get older.

I nursed my daughter until 3, my son is 3 and still nursing, and I'm tandem nursing my 10 month old, too. I've definitely dealt with biting. I have to disagree with anyone who suggests to pinch, tweak, or pop your baby if they bite. They are too young to understand the pain you caused is because of their biting. They don't even know their teeth hurt when they clamp down - they are just TOO NEW ;-) Plus, causing pain or surprise maybe have the effect of inadvertantly causing a nursing strike.

One thing to know is they cannot bite if latched on correctly, as their tongue is between you and them (over their lower gum). So, as it looks like you've figured out, he bites when he's done. I'd bet that he nurses fine, but when he gets satiated his latch starts to relax a bit and he slips lower on your nipple. That's probably when he actually clamps down.

Two things to do: 1. Prevent the biting. When he notice his latch starts to slip, unlatch him before he bites. He might not yet be done with nursing, which is ok, you can go ahead and let him re-latch properly (I always say "Big Ahhh" to help them get their mouth wide open). If he is done, that's good too. NOTE: removing him from the breast is NOT a punishment because he is biting, but a way to prevent it altogether and/or re-latch him properly so he can't bite.

2. This will sound strange, but pull him closer to you when he bites. It goes against your first instinct, but by pulling him closer to you, you make him open his mouth wider, take in more of the breast, and thus correct his latch. This always works for me.

The technique of removing baby from your breast, saying no, and putting them down for a little while before allowing them to nurse again I think can be very effective, but for OLDER kids, like toddlers. Little ones, under 1 year definitely, just don't have the whole cause and effect stuff down real well, and you don't want them associate "No" with nursing instead of the biting, which can happen. It sounds good, but really, when you deny the breast to a little one, they just get so sad...it doesn't make sense that the thing that they've always found comforting is all of a sudden being denied.

Anyway....that's my $0.02.

Celeste - posted on 03/29/2010

I'm glad that we've helped! One thing about nursing toddlers/preschoolers is that my boys only nurse once a day. So no one really knows that I'm"still" nursing my boys. I really don't bring up the topic either because I know what they'll say LOL

Heather - posted on 03/29/2010

Thank you guys so much! The biting is slowly getting better, I just take him off when he bites. I have noticed it's at the end of his feeding.

As for how long, I'm wanting to do it really as long as he will nurse. I just don't want people to be all like "uh.. why are you still nursing?" So that link is a lot of help, I can back up why I will be doing it longer than most =)

I appreciate the feedback!!

Celeste - posted on 03/29/2010

#1 I agree with Dyani about the biting. Another thing that you might try is to figure out when he's biting. With my twin boys, they'd bite when they were done. As soon as I saw that they were done, I unlatched them before they had the chance to bite.



#2 LOL I'm "that" mother who is still feeding her 3 year olds from the boob. It's nothing I planned on, I planned on nursing them til they were 18 months. Then 18 months turned to 2 years and here we are, although I'm slowly weaning them. It's up to you how long you feel comfortable not your family. The World Health Organization recommends 2 or beyond. There are a ton of benefits for mom and child the longer you nurse. One thing about doctors, is they aren't the best people to go to about breastfeeding. Fortunately, my boys' pediatrician is very pro extended nursing and encouraged me to keep going..



Check this link about nursing after one.

Extended nursing benefits:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/eb...

Dyani - posted on 03/29/2010

#1- nurse as long as you feel comfortable. In the US, breastfeeding weans much earlier than in other countries. When you nurse into the 2's and 3's, people can start to look at you sideways, but it is all up to you and your child. You have to answer that question. Definitely a year, if you can do that. I nursed my first baby for 13 months and I'll do at least the same for this one.



Regarding biting- I had a biter with my first one and BOY was that not-so-fun. I consulted with a lactation expert and she gave the best advice. One- try to not respond dramatically when he bites you.. he'll laugh and will keep trying to get that response. Two- when he bites, firmly say "no biting...teeth are for eating NOT biting" and promptly remove his from the breast. Do NOT return him to the breast for another 5 minutes or so. he needs to learn that biting will cause an immediate removal from the breast. Even if he cries, keep him off for the 5 minutes. Actually crying might be somewhat good, he is seeing that biting will cause him discomfort. And three, nurse him when he is hungy. Babies can NOT nurse and bite at the same time. Don't feed him food first, then nurse. Nurse him first. He'll be more interested in nursing (and less in biting) when he's hungry. Then if he chooses to take a nip at the end you know that he is full and done and can remove him with no worries.



Good luck. I followed these tips with my first baby and it took about 4-5 days and then the biting was gone. Just be CONSISTENT, especially with the taking off the breast. My 9 month old doesn't have teeth, but she gums me to death like a bite and boy does it hurt. I still follow these rules and don't have much trouble. But I am almost sure that if she gets teeth before the nursing is done, she'll try them out out me and we'll need to start over with it!



Best of luck mom..



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