nursing and biting question? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

hugs28 · 10-11-2005, 02:15 PM

I am finally back from vacation and I missed this board while gone, I have to catch up, but wanted to ask you nursing moms out there about this.

My son is 11 wks old now and now just the past few days he has been pulling my nipple while nursing and I think biting it with his gums. It hurts, I am almost ready to switch him to the bottle, and possibly pump for him, it really hurts, is there a way to stop this behavior or no. The other thing is also, he does not like the bottle at all, is there a easier way to get him to accept it, or just to keep up at it and hope he will eventually take it. Maybe he could be starting to suck to hard also, but that pulling he is doing is killin me lol, grrrrrrrr, what to do. thanks

Dani Girl 78 · 10-11-2005, 09:31 PM

You can put your finger in his mouth and seperate his jaws when he chomps down, maybe that will help, and tell him no. They maybe infants but it's not too early to let them know that what they are doing isn't good.

Now getting him to take a bottle is work. My 8mth would not take a bottle at first, we tried every nipple and bottle there was, he finally took the Platex Nurser (wa-who) with the drop in bag. Now he will take any bottle and any nipple. Another thing is to let someone else besides you give him the bottle, that way he wont smell you and wont the booby. Try everyday to get him to take a bottle and he will get it sooner or later.

Good Luck

Kiedy · 10-11-2005, 09:42 PM

Hugs,

My DS also pulls on my nipple like crazy when he is done eating and wants to stretch. I just don't let him, I hold his head close or just unlutch him. He should not be biting you, unless he is not lutched on properly. Yes, saying NO loudly every time he does it may help. Try different positions. My son liked one position for a long time and them for some reason would not eat properly, switching position for couple of feedings a day helped.

dizzygirl · 10-12-2005, 05:34 AM

My son just started biting me this week, but now it's every time. It hurts so badly, he has two teeth! The last time, it took my breath away, and he got scared and cried. Now, he doesn't want to nurse on that side. I was told to stop nursing them immediately, put them down on the floor, and try again in 20 min. But saying something didn't work for me, it backfired! Ouch, Ouch, Ouch!

BigMomma24 · 10-12-2005, 01:33 PM

My daughter bites and thinks it's just the funniest thing. She's 8 months old and has three bottom teeth. I nurse her when she is hungry so she'll eat and not mess around, but as soon as she starts getting full, she'll nibble down on my nipple to see if she can get a response. I'll yell out "OUCH!" and she laughs. She thinks it's a game, but I just put my finger in her mouth and unlatch her. Then I look at her sternly and say "NO! THAT HURTS!" I know when she's biting, it's a sign that she's not really hungry, so I stop feeding, or switch to solids at that time and try breastfeeding again later.

Your little one shouldn't be biting yet, though... it seems too early. Have you checked to make sure that you're latched on properly? Try laying down on your side when you nurse him, that works best for me. Also, Lansinoh makes a good product for sore nipples. (And ice helps) Remember that the longer you breastfeed, the healthier your baby will be. Try different techniques before switching to a bottle.