Breastfeeding Support Group

While breastfeeding is recommended by many doctors, it is not as simple as it seems. This is a community dedicated to parents who are choosing to breastfeed, providing a safe place to discuss everything from pumping, to questions of whether baby is getting enough, weaning, breast care, scheduling, supply, and more.

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Children's Health & Parenting
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Biting while breastfeeding

karinmaep
karinmaep
I just have a question. My daughter is 7 months old and she has 5 teeth and she is starting to bite everytime I nurse. What should I do? My family thinks I should just quit all together, but I enjoy the bond that we have. Any advice?
suzyhopes
suzyhopes
no reason to quit what so ever. We've all been bitten!
When she does it firmly tell her no, take her off the breast, set her down and walk away. She'll get the idea. Just be consistent,s he just doesn't understand or know what she's doing hurts.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Suzy is right on :). Now that my son is over 19 months, I am having problems with him pinching, pulling, and twisting me even though I have done what Suzy suggested (and it worked when he was a biting baby), but I think he's entering the terrible 2's early!
deleted_user
deleted_user
My son is 6 months and no teeth yet but he is biting down as well. I say "no" and unlatch him right away every time. It will take a few times but if you are consistant he should catch on that if he bites he can't nurse with you. I also found with my older son that he usually started to bite and do things like that when he was getting full. He would be too into feeding to worry about doing it until his tummy was getting full. I had a bit of a problem with my older son as well because he for some reason thought it was funny when I said no and when I said it firmly he thought it was even funnier and he tried to make a game out of it. He didn't think it was too funny when I would latch him off and put my boob away though. Definately try not to quit nursing but I sure hope your daughter will stop biting ya. Good luck with that
deleted_user
deleted_user
I agree with the others. I actually JUST experienced this last night for the first time (side note, my boob is SO sore today!). My son would latch just fine, suck to stimulate a let down and when I wouldn't have one right away, he'd unlatch and as soon as he latched again he'd bite me! I did as everyone said and it literally took four feeding attempts througout the night for him to get the picture. The first few times I firmly said no and set him down on the ground and tried again. However, as soon as I let him try again he'd bite. So, eventually I just stopped feeding him altogether when he would bite. Now this morning we've had two successful feedings with no biting. Good thing because I don't think I could handle much more of that!
karinmaep
karinmaep
Thanks everyone!!