Biting While Nursing

My daughter did the same thing a few times (even drew blood once) and when she did, I broke the latch, told her "NO!" and then ended the feeding completely. I did notice that she only bit me when it was the end of the feeding so that may be the same with your daughter. I think once my daughter understood that biting meant no more milk, she stopped. Like I said, it only happened a few times.

I hope it stops quickly because I know how painful it can be!

I broke my daughter of biting at 4 months! She bite me once really hard and it startled me as well as hurt me, without even thinking, I screeched and unlatched her! She never bite me after that! She would start to grip a little harder, but as soon as I said no, she never bite again! I think it scared her and by me telling her no every time I thought she was considering, it just reinforced that and she never bit hard again! My daughter had 6 teeth at 10 months! Be thankful yours currently only has 2!

I would suggest getting a soft teether, something that may resemble the feel of your breast, cause if she is teething, she may just like that texture, and then every time she starts biting, you can give her that and she will catch on that what she is doing isn't acceptable!

Good luck, I hope everything works out for you and your daughter's nursing experience!

Are you planning to wean soon? Or at 12 months? The doctor may let you start with milk now, although normally they wait until 12 months. Breastmilk is best, but of course not if it is causing tension between you. If she only bites after a bit of time nursing, I would probably just stop at that point and either give her a bottle/sippy or let her go if she's getting enough nutrition. You could still express your milk and put it in the bottle. Weaning is kind of hard on both of you because it's a transition, so if she's initiating it, maybe you should take advantage of it--because in a few months you may not be able to get her to stop!! In any case, you could try to keep telling her no, firmly but gently, and that might work for the short term.

S.,

Ouch, I know how that feels! My daughter did it a couple of times and my pediatrician told me to flick her in the forehead. It seems mean, but it doesnt hurt them it is just more of an eye opener and used for the shock factor. It worked really well for me.

good luck!
A.

I read in a breast-feeding book that the first time they bite, you should scream loud as if in pain...not AT them, but just to startle them. I wasn't convinced and so I waited to try it until I was completely fed up. It only took once and my son never bit me again.

I also have a 10 month old, and she has all four of her front teeth through. However, she started biting me after she got her first two. I figured out that when she starts biting me she is letting me know that she is in pain. So I started watching for other signs such as her biting her fingers more often, drooling more, or just plain cranky. If I didn't catch any signs and she bites me, I detach her and give her tylenol and then I occupy her for as long as I can (up to an hour) so I know the medicine is working. And then I let her finish eating. That seems to work for us. P.S. Four teeth does hurt more...LOL.

Dear S.,
My daughter started biting at about 1 year and what she was telling me was she was done being brest fed. I would suggest getting a cup or bottle and putting breatmilk in it. Are you still producing enough milk for her? I just had to respond as I knew for my baby she was ready to be weaned. I didn't want to quit but that was better than being bit. If nothing else is working then I truly would try changing to a cup or a bottle with your breastmilk in it. Let me know how trying that turns out. You can email me at ____@____.com and put Mamasource in the subject line so I know its from you. My hotmail only lets people in whom I've approved so I will find it in my junk mail but then make it so it can come into my approved mail. I would love to hear from you. I'll be praying for you. C.