Biting & Breastfeeding

Samantha - posted on 02/25/2009

My son now has his two bottom front teeth and has bitten me quite a few times especially when they were coming through.  I would say ow in a loud not happy voice and take him off the breast.  Then put him back on after a bit and do the same thing if it happened again.  He hasn't bitten me for a while except sometimes when he is falling asleep but I think that's not on purpose.  Now his new trick is turning his head before detaching from the breast that is painful, working on stopping that one!!!

Megyn - posted on 02/24/2009

I think the problem is he could care less about nursing. He's the type of baby that needs to be reminded when to eat and drink. He can seriously go all waking hours with nothing and be happy (the longest I've seen is 6 hours). I've had to learn to remember to feed him instead of the other way around.

Alexis - posted on 02/24/2009

My son has now 6 teeth and has biten be a few times. I was told by a good friend and it worked for me, when they bite to take them off in a loud stern voice say NO and then cover the nipple for a few moments. He would try to latch on and could not as my hand was in the way and realized if I bite it gets taken away. The first time I did this he cried as he was not sure what he did, but realized quickly that if he does it again there is no more. All has been good now. And as the other mom stated above you know your baby and when they are full to take them off or they will play and could bite.

Lauren - posted on 02/24/2009

Quoting Caty:

i breastfed my first till he was 20 months, he started biting when he got his first 2 teeth at 4 months, i just said no really stern and put him down and as soon and after biting about 3 time he realized he got removed from the breast when he did that and he never bite again

I do the same thing. My son is also 7 months and has his two bottom front teeth. I just take the breast away from him. His only bite me about four times in the last three months that his had his teeth.

Caty - posted on 02/24/2009

i breastfed my first till he was 20 months, he started biting when he got his first 2 teeth at 4 months, i just said no really stern and put him down and as soon and after biting about 3 time he realized he got removed from the breast when he did that and he never bite again

Caty - posted on 02/24/2009

i breastfed my first till he was 20 months, he started biting when he got his first 2 teeth at 4 months, i just said no really stern and put him down and as soon and after biting about 3 time he realized he got removed from the breast when he did that and he never bite again

Emily - posted on 02/24/2009

My son started biting when he got his first two teeth.  When ever he did I would say "no" (not yelling at him, but in a firm voice) and take him off.  This resulted in a few days of miserable feedings because he would bite, I would stop feeding him and say no, he would start crying because he had stopped eating, then I would have to calm him down before starting again or else he would bite down immediantly.  He would bite maybe 3 times per feeding so nursing took longer and seemed more like a wrestling match, but after a few days he stopped biting.  He did bite a few times after that, but only when he was already full and I had tried to get him to eat a little more.  Now I read the signs and as soon as he is full I let him stop instead of trying to get him to eat a little more because I'm looking at the clock and thinking it hasn't been long enough.  Good luck!

Tiffany - posted on 02/24/2009

My daughter is also a biter and has even bitten down and then dragged her teeth along while pulling off! It can hurt for over an hour after she bites! I have tried taking her off the breast, saying "ouch! That hurts mommy!" and even 'no biting' in a firm voice... (which she finds funny!) I was also told to push the breast in towards her face when she does it, but that didn't work either.... I am hoping it is a phase she grows out of... I know she can't possibly understand that she is causing me pain, I am sure to her it feels nice, like biting down on her teether toys! Like pulling hair, she just doesn't know! Sorry I'm not much help, but just know that you are not alpne!

Terra - posted on 02/24/2009

My baby does not have teeth yet but when my son who is 4 now bit, I would take him off the breast and show it hurt by saying or or something along those lines. If they really are hungry and want to eat then they will learn to stop. It may take a few times but they learn. It would be a shame to stop breastfeeding now because of teeth. Hopefully this is helpful

Lucy - posted on 02/23/2009

hey, i breastfed 2 of mine til 6 months at least. I just found that if i didnt react as much, they wouldnt find it so funny... i know its kinda hard to NOT react, (i've been bitten so hard, i bled) but the less you react, the less its funny to them!!

or, what bout the nipple covers you can get, especially for ur nipples... my mum used them with me... apparently they work wonders

Hope this helps