Ow! She bit me (& other bf issues)...

[momtoelise]

So, the other day Elise kind of half-bit me while nursing - I felt the teeth, but no blood.  Then the next day she bit & drew blood.     Now I'm pretty sore & it hurts when bfing...  I've put some lanolin on them & tried a little vitamin E on them too.  Anyone know how long it takes to heal?  I'm scared she's going to do it again!!

I've been debating weaning for awhile & this may push me over the edge.  It seems like feedings have been such a struggle lately - she has been more fussy instead of smiley, especially at the last feeding of the day (around 7/7:30).  I posted about this recently & think it's just her developmental stage, but it's just not enjoyable & I'm tired of questioning my supply.  Now after being bitten, I feel like giving up.      I planned on weaning down to just the morning & evening feeding in the next couple months, but that last feeding is the worst so it seems like that would be the one to drop first.   I'm just not sure what to do... 

Anyone else struggling with feedings & thinking about stopping?

[maggieruth]

i know a little about pain whilst bfing, having weathered two yeast infections and some gumming!  to be honest, Ethan seems keen on exploring with his new found teethbuds pushing on his gums too, what is it with 8 month old bubs?  my own personal take on things is that he is learning more about how his mouth works and can now do a bit of chewing as well as sucking and is keen to explore this, with paper, carpet fluff, toys, keys or me!  the positive thing is he is making loads of noises and trying bread and dips... the negative is that just when i least expect it he is practising some new baby eating technique
i am still kinda keen to keep going (maybe the first time he draws blood i will get fuzzier in my convictions?)... maybe its my distrust of some company that figures that they can do just as well at nourishing my baby using cowsmilk as a basis for comparison, maybe i am just still pleased that i can nuture him this way... maybe despite the exhaustion i am adicted to carrying my little bundle off to bed after his dreamfeed, i dunno.
you have got to do what is right for you and your lo and you know what that is, i am here for you either way if you want to chat about bfing's more excrutiating or fantastic bits... i know for me i already forget enough things off the shopping list without formula being one of them... ask me again after my son gets more teeth!!!
x

[daisymelan]

I'm afraid my lo is close to this as he has two teeth now, so I popped into this thread to see waht advice was given.

Stacy:  That's teh first time I heard of that.  I had heard that you should say ow loudly to scare them so they don't do it again.  Happy that I peaked in on this post and viewed what you wrote.  I will have to give that some thought..... seems to make sense to me.

[GraceKellysmom]

I think it depends on the baby what will work for them. Dd was a very serious baby, and one "ouch" was all it took. Ds did think it was funny, he loves to pinch and pull hair too because "ouch" is funny to him.

So use your discretion when deciding what works best for you.

[momtoelise]

Thank you for the responses!  The nipple is already doing a lot better, and thankfully, I haven't been bitten again (so far ).  If she does do it again, I will definitely use your suggestions.

I'm still feeling pretty undecided on continuing on with bf or starting to wean her.  The feedings continue to be a struggle with more fussing than I think is normal.  We'll see how the next week or so goes.... 

[Wilfie's Mummy]

My little boy cut his first teeth when he was 5 months old and had 4 by the time he was 6 months old, but didn't start biting until he was about 8 months like some of the other lo's mentioned, he also got really fussy about that time. When ever he bit I would take him off the breast and stop the feed for a few minutes, he didn't like having his feeds interupted so abruptly and I did feel a bit mean doing it but he soon stopped biting and it meant that we were able to keep bfing. I wasn't ready to stop bfing and found the prospect of stopping at that point devastating so it was a short term mean mummy moment for long term gain for both of us and I'm sure have interupted feeds for a while hasn't done him any harm.

If you don't manage to keep the biting under control theres nothing to stop you having lovely close feeding time with a bottle rather than your breast, don't feel under pressure to keep going if its spoiling those close times with your lo, just do whats right for the two of you.

Hannah x

[M&M's Ima]

Hi!
My ds is only four months, but i peeked in here cuz he's already biting me even though he doesn't have teeth yet!. Bites down hard and pulls. (when he's not hungry anymore.) What worked with my first ds was saying very seriously "no biting!" (not "ouch" cuz for some reason some babies think that's a funny sounding word) and take it away from him. I did that yesterday with the baby, but first I did say "ow!" automatically, and big ds started laughing hysterically. then i said "no bite!" to the baby, and he didn't know whether to cry because I spoke strongly to him, or to laugh, cuz his brother thought it was hysterical.

Momtoelise, could there be another reason your Elise is fussy during that last feed?

[momtoelise]

Thanks for the support Stacy & Hannah!

M&M's Ima, I am really stumped why she has been most fussy at that last feeding of the day.  There must be something going on, but I haven't figured it out yet... 

[Samuel's mum]

bump

[rebecaq]

  :-*Thanks!

[CharlotteandCharlie]

I had seen this post a few weeks ago and am now in need of help myself.  Sorry to intrude.

My dd has started (yesterday) biting me but she doesn't have teeth.  I had read before that you should say ouch loudly and take them off but she too thinks this is fun.  I have to confess that when our dog Mabel was a pup and had razors for teeth they taught us to yelp like a pup does when she bit us and it worked fantastically.  I suppose the parallels of raising a puppy and a baby end here. 

Is dd biting/gumming because she is getting teeth? Are there any other ways to stop it before it gets worse or will a few more yelps and stopping the feeding do the trick?

Thank you.

[daisymelan]

If she is clamping on and is reluctant to let go I have heard that you can push their face into your breast....  that will get the lo to release.  I don't know how to word that sentence without it sounding mean, but I think you will know what I mean. 

One lady posted before that she didn't say anythign when her lo bit and since there was no reaction, her lo didn't do it anymore. 

I think you have assess what will work best with your lo.  I find with mine (although he doesn't bite, but I do it when he gets distracted and keeps bobbing off) if I hold him off, he gets very angry, but stays on the next time.

Your lo could be biting because of teeth, it's really hard to say.

Good luck! 

[squeaky's mum]

Hi There,

Did those of you with bitey babies find it was just a passing phase? Sophie is 8.5 months, just getting her 2nd tooth and has bitten me (lightly, but it was sore all the same) 3 times in the last 2 days. I am hoping it won't last very long. Is this your experience? I don't want to wean her yet, she has an intolerance to dairy and I'm sure breast milk is far far better for her than Soya formula so I need to see this biting through.

Thanks

Claire

[momtoelise]

Claire,

Since posting this, DD has been much better - no more biting episodes at all!  So, I guess for us it was a passing phase.  I hope the same will be true for you!!

[CharlotteandCharlie]

Hi.  I just wanted to say that my dd began "biting" me although she has no teeth.  I have found that she only does this when she is bored.  When she is nursing but not really in to it.  Kinda hanging around suck suck, gnaw gnaw.  It hurts and she just kind of hangs off to the side and smiles.  Crazy baby.  

I haven't been able to stop her except to make sure she is focused and hungry.

HTH