Biting

[~Kim~]

I know this has been covered before...sorry.

Darcy is having 2-4bf per day still. Which while I'm a bit 'over' I'm happy to keep doing as long as she wants.

The last couple of days have been a nighmare. She wants a feed but as soon as I go to put her on during the day - she clamps down. She has a full set of chompers too.

Last night she went to bed without a feed because I couldn't get her to stop biting.

I do all the usual - try not to react, put her down with a firm 'no' and walk away.

Is this her telling me she's done?

She won't take milk from a cup or bottle either.

[MantaRay]

Kim, does she have teeth coming through atm? I know my boys have only ever bitten when there are actually teeth coming through. If this is the case, it should settle down in a day or so.

How is she letting you know she wants a feed? If she wants a feed but then bites, it seems to suggest that she still wants to bf, whereas if she just bites and shows no interest in the bb then maybe she's ready to wean. It's hard to know from what you've said.

You are doing the right things. Mabye give it another day or two to see if it settles, and if it doesn't think about weaning. Does she drink water from a cup or bottle or is she only bfing? It's going to be harder for you to wean if she won't drink milk otherwise. If she's at least having water, then you can give her the calcium she needs through foods such as yoghurt, cheese, green leafy veges etc. But if she's not drinking anything else at all I guess you'll have to find a way to get her to drink before you wean, so it's going to be tough on you.

I really hope it settles for you and things get easier again!

[~Kim~]

Thanks Melanie. Yep she's a top little water drinker and she has all the right foods. SHe does come and pull at my top and go "ugh" and nod her head to let me know she wants a feed, but then when it comes down to it, she just bites adn then runs away.

She only has 3 or 4 teeth left to come through (she got 11 a few weeks back in less than a fortnight), so i'm pretty sure it isn't that.

I think she is weaning though - she took a bottle of milk tonight and then asked for more . Always said I'd be happy for her to self wean...now I don't know why I'm upset.

[MantaRay]

Oh Kim, it is hard. Jack self weaned at about 14 months and I was so sad about it. Especially because it was unexpected too, he dropped one feed at a time, but I thought he would keep having one feed a day forever I think, but one day he just wasn't interested anymore. At least you know she will drink milk from a bottle now so that makes it easier for you if she is self-weaning. I hope it works out for you.

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

I don't think that your little one is telling you she's done. 12 mnths is usually too young to self wean, unless they have been getting a lot of milk in bottles and that's loking a lot more viable than breastfeeding - but if she won't take a cup or bottle then that's not likely to be the case. At 12 mnths they do like to examine the principle of "cause and effect" - they like to se what mummy does when they bite. But biting phases are usually very shortlived - you are doing all the right things there. Are you over it because of the biting, or are you over it for other reasons?
Warm Regards
Barb

[~Kim~]

Hi girls, just thought I would update. Thanks for your support.
Darcy had her last feed in the early hours of Wednesday22nd. SHe only had one side and refused the other. I continued ot ffer for days but she plain refused. I did grieve quite badly.

[Tobily]

You sound like you could use one of these

You did a wonderful job, I'm sure you know that. You're raising a healthy, happy little girl and given her the most wonderful gift...now she's moving on to a new phase in her life and you're still her mummy, and still the most important person in her world

[MantaRay]

Oh Kim, hugs from me too. I do know how you feel. But as Flea said, you have done a fantastic job and having gone past 12 months at least you don't have to worry about formula. It is ok to grieve and I hope you are getting some support in IRL - I didn't really as everyone thought I should have weaned him once pg. So I hope you are because it is a big thing in a mother's life to finish that bfing relationship. But I can tell you that my relationship with Jack still remained strong and I did feel better about it after a while. And it is much better to know that they have made the choice, not us. Take care.

[~Kim~]

Melanie and FLea thankyou so much. Yes I am supported and I know it was easier than making the decision myself.....