How do you handle getting teeth and breastfeeding??? AHHHH

Julie - posted on 02/16/2009

I nursed my little guy until he was 16 months, and only stopped because he was not enjoying sharing with his new sister :) As long as the child is latched on properly, you will not have a problem with the teeth, unless they decide to use them. A decided he wanted to play games, and thought it was funny when Mommy screamed. I would set him down, or give him to daddy, and told him that we don't bite. He did it a few more times but realized that when he did, he would not eat, but more than that, he would not have the comfort of mommy. I do not agree with 'thumping' or 'flicking'. Also make sure that your little one doesn't get frustrated before or during nursing, or even super hungry, because it will lead to more problems.

A family member thought it was funny to mess with him while he nursed, making him laugh and then bite me. So not funny

Beth - posted on 02/16/2009

I nursed my son & then  my twin girls till they were 16 months.  My son only bit my a couple times that I can remember and of my girls Amelia was the one.  I would just look at her and say NO, of course I think I kinda scared her but that hurts, she only did it a couple of times. When they wanted to nurse I would nurse them but sometimes you could tell they were just playing so our nursing session was over.  People that never nursed before would always ask me how do you do it when they have teeth....as long as they are latched correctly there should be no problem.  I only had issues once my kids were older 10+ months.

Vicki - posted on 02/16/2009

My first bite came at 7 months.  I was totally caught off guard and I did not react well.  Looking back, I wish I would have anticipated it so I could have maintained better composure.  I wonder if the key is to NOT react.  Seems if the baby gets a strong reaction, they want to repeat it to see if they get the reaction again.

Christi - posted on 02/16/2009

Hey, I nursed all 5 of my children for at least a year. All 5 of them bit me at one point or another. I too flicked their little cheek. It didn't hurt them, it was just unexpected and sort of surprised them. They learned to associate the flick with biting and since they didn't like to be flicked, they decided biting really wasn't worth it :)

Vickie - posted on 02/16/2009

hi. it can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable if your baby gets the urge to bite but otherwise feeding usually goes just as before and you cant really feel your babies teeth. that was my experience anyway. hope it helps.

Adrienne - posted on 02/16/2009

I breastfed til my guy was a little over six months. I got sick and my breatmilk dried up. But before I stopped he had 4 teeth. Yes, it hurts when he would bite me. I would flick his cheek (he would cry and I felt awful for doing) and I would say no. If he did it again I would do the same and take him off the breast for a minute or two. Trying to show him that if you bite you don't get. It worked every time he would get a new tooth. When he had teeth on top and the bottom and then bite, I had to  hand him off and run for the bathroom cursing and crying cause he did it so hard.

Melissa - posted on 02/16/2009

My 5 mo old just bit me a few weeks ago with those little puppy teeth.  She wasn't really hungry when I tried to nurse her so she bit me.  Yeah it bruised me but it got better.  I have found I have to really look and make sure she's about to latch correctly (tounge out, wide mouth) Sometimes I fool her and put my finger in her mouth and if she bites me, I don't nurse her right then - I wait until she's calmer.

Melanie - posted on 02/16/2009

When I breastfed, I had to endure that also. I read in a magazine afterwards, that is you take a wet washrag and stick it in the freezer, let it get hard then, 30 minutes before you breastfeed, pull it out and let the baby chew on it so they can get the feeling of chewing over with and they won't do it on you.