Sharp Teeth

[yorkshire]

Hi
My question is related to the 'booby biter' post but not exactly the same.
My 9 month old now has 6 teeth including 2 sharp front top ones.  Since the top teeth have emerged fully, I am finding bfing really uncomfortable verging on pretty painful.  He doesn't bite exactly, he just rests his teeth very hard and kind of drags down as he feeds.  It happens more towards the end of the feed (or I feel it more then as the breast is emptier).  I don't know what to do.  I had hoped to bf till he is 1 at least.  As he has a bad cold and cough I am thinking I don't want to wean him suddenly and have the winter ahead with no antibodies.  I could pump and bottle feed perhaps but I would miss bfing (all except the biting).

Also I am a bit unclear how many feeds he should have if/when I wean.  Currently I BF 3 times a day.  Wondering when to go down to 2 then 1 then none and when I do, do I give him a bottle or cup of formula to substitute?  And if so, for how long do babies/toddlers drink milk?  He eats solids sporadically - sometimes lots, sometimes very little. He isn't keen on swallowing lumps yet so his solids diet is still a bit limited.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

[mellissa]

Hello -

First congratulations on breastfeeding your DS for 9 months. You are doing a great job!

My DD is also 9 months and I know exactly what you mean by the "dragging." It sounds like it's happening at the end of the nursing session because your son is nearly done eating. When my DD does this I take her off the breast and offer the second. Sometimes she is still hungry, other times she's done nursing.

When she first started bitting, not "dragging," I'd push her slightly into the breast. She'd unlatch quickly and relatch without bitting. I found that it refocused her.

I think you can make it to your goal of "till he is 1 at least."

All the best,
Mellissa

[RachelC]

I agree with Mellissa.  I would remove him from the breast when the "drag" occurs.  Then offer the other side to make sure he's had enough.

As for weaning, that varies from baby to baby.  I am still bfing my 15 month old 3 times a day.  *Typically* babies will drop to 2 feeds somewhere between 10-12 months (my first went from a feed after every solid meal and AM... so 4 feeds a day... to only 1 AM feed a day at 11 months).  You think about dropping a feed when he shows little to know interest in that feed.  When you do drop it, you can offer a snack instead.  As far as variety is concerned... almost anything can be pureed into a smooth consistancy.  I would follow his lead on amounts and *try* not to over analyze it.

There is no need to introduce formula in a sippy cup.  If you wanted to, you could express and offer breast milk in a sippy... but if he's not nursing, he probably is not looking for that anyway.  I offer water in a sippy all day long and with meals.  Cow's milk can wait until 12 months (unless recommended by your pediatrician)

[yorkshire]

Thanks very much both for support and advice.  Will try your ideas.