I need some help... My DD has just got her first 2 teeth and is biting me during feeds which is very painful and very frustrating and I don't know what to do.
DD has always been a very good feeder, however, we have had some difficulties due to her extremely inquisitive nature. Basically if I'm feeding her it has to be in a very quiet place. If I try and sneak in a drink of water she wants to have some too, if I try and read a book she wants to read it too, if there is any background noise she turns her head to see who/what it is. Often she does this 'investigating' while still attached which was frustrating and a little painful at times before she got teeth. Now she has teeth well you can imagine what it is like to have her stay attached and suddenly yank her head around to look at something.
I find it is worse on my slow side - on my good side milk just pours out so she really has to concentrate on drinking it so she is less likely to get distracted on this side (still happens sometimes though) but the slower side is really difficult.
I don't know what to do. She is only 5 months old and I don't want to stop feeding her but I am getting so frustrated and upset that I'm wondering if I should just give up so as this doesn't impact on our relationship. If I cry out because she has bitten me then she usually cries too so I know it is upsetting her too but I just don't know what to do. Even feeding her in a dark room doesn't seem to help because there is always at least a hint of a shadow that she can get distracted by!
Thankfully I have only been bitten down on before teeth, but with hard gums it still hurt. I took her off and refused to feed her for half an hour. She hasn't bitten since. Taking her off when she starts getting distracted will help her to learn that if she doesn't concentrate on milk the milk will be gone. The ABA have some great info about it too Here
Fi, those bites really hurt don't they? It's an awful stage because you start to dread feeds
Luckily, biting usually lasts for a short time while the teeth are a new sensation in your baby's mouth. Sometimes it will happen again when more teeth come through, but again, it usually doesn't last long.
The article Alioops has linked to is really helpful for biting. The main things are to be extra careful with positioning, and to try giving your DD something cold to chew on before the feed. Also, if she breaks your skin, it's a good idea to wash your breast after feeds for a while to stop he saliva from irritating it further.
I was just about to post a new thread on biting! Tristan is 9.5 months and has had his teeth for about a week now. He is biting me every feed every side and is drawing blood. I too don't want to stop, but I am really dreading breastfeeds now.
Thanks girls, the link to the ABA was very helpful and I am relieved to see that this is most likely only going to be a temporary thing
Feeding today was a little better, during one feed I got bitten twice but this afternoon even when she was distracted she pulled off nicely and didn't grate her teeth on my nipple which was a huge relief! I'm still so tense at every feed though because like Sally I've had blood drawn and it is not a good thing!
I also need to be firmer with her as I think I've been letting her get away with combining feeding and playing which isn't helping the situation so I will make sure I start taking her off when she gets restless and distracted and teach her that boobs are for feeding and not for feeding a bit / looking at the world / feeding a bit more / smiling and laughing / feeding some more / biting etc!! It's very hard with such an inquisative little soul
Sally, lets hope our little ones stop this nasty business very quickly!
DS would often bite more when teething, you have been given some great advice already but I just wanted to say that I would have my fingernails really short on my pinkies so that when he started to play or about to bite I would break the suction as quick as humanely possible and then reattach. Easier said then done but I got good at it.
I have just come out the other side of this exact same thing except DS was cutting his 7th and 8th tooth. He was putting me through absolutle agony! He was biting every single feed, biting so hard I thought I wouldn't have a nipple left when I finally got him to let go and he even drew blood on quite a few occasions. I was so close to throwing in the towel, he cut these teeth and then one day he just stopped. When he was biting me I would tell him "no you don't bite mummy" and put him on the floor straight away then not feed him for a good half hour or so.
Like the girls have said this too will pass and hang in the best you can. It just takes them a little while to adjust to having new teeth. You'll be back to feeding like pros in no time at all.
The advice I was given was to put them down, tell them firmly not to bite and walk away. It worked really well for me, only a couple of times I got bit, did it and it ended. They soon realise that doing it means no food. I know they dont realise they are doing it or they are trying out these new things they have but you have to let them know that its hurts and its not on. I had to do the same sort of thing with they playing around, if she was mucking around I put her down. Good luck.
thanks girls for all of your advice - the novelty of teeth is slowly wearing off for DD and although I've had a few close calls I haven't had any biting in a while so fingers crossed she has had enough of trying out her teeth on my nipples!!
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Biting - it really hurts!
glad it has settled for now for both of you
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