Breastfeeding and biting

[kimjim]

Just wondered if anyone had any tips to stop my lo biting when she's breastfeeding. She's only been doing it the last couple of days but it bloody hurts!!! She's only got her 2 bottom teeth at the moment so I can only assume that it'll get worse as she gets more!

Thanks

Kim xxx

[rachaelmae]

Livvy tended to do it when she was teething, i just said ouch/no looked hurt and put her down... and repeated as neededxx

[kimjim]

Thanks rachaelmae, I hoped you might have some advice! She's only done it a couple of times and each time it's made me yelp which has then made her cry I'm sure she's teething so it's probably to do with this and I know she really doesn't mean to do it but I need her to realise how much it hurts. I'll try what you suggested below, hopefully if I keep putting her down she'll realise that her food will be interupted and that'll be enough to stop her doing it. She's such a greedy girl that I'm sure she won't want her food to be stopped!!!

[inmyhonestopinion]

Make sure she has eased the need to nibble before latching on. So, calpol, teething gel, moist cold cloth to chew etc. When she nibbles, take her off straight away cause she knows well fine what she's doing lol Don't offer her your finger to nibble or you'll have a problem with her biting folks...

[rachaelmae]

Livvy used to think it was a game, so i had to get tough!! but she loves her tit milk, so she learnt quickly

She will still do it now if shes not bothered by a feed, and she giggles.... i can feel breast feeding coming rapidly to an end

Good luck!x

[kimjim]

Thanks inmyhonestopinion. I'm sure she doesn't mean to hurt her mummy I was always told not to give them teething gel before a feed as it made it hard for them to latch on, although a lot of advice I've been given is crap so that might be as well!!! I'll definitely give the other suggestions a go. I definitely wouldn't give her my finger to nibble on as that blooming hurts too! x

[inmyhonestopinion]

Yeah, I'd heard that too, but found out that it's only if the baby is still very young and still learning to bf that it's a problem. I think it was on here I read it...

[kimjim]

I suppose when you think about it it would only be for when they're younger and learning, she's such a little expert at it now that it probably wouldn't bother her. I'm not sure where I heard/read it now but I'll give it a whirl tomorrow.

Thanks again x

[scottishmum]

Andrew has started to bite in the last couple of weeks (hes 5 months)- usually at the end of a feed and especially when something else interesting catches his attention e.g daddy walking past or if he thinks I am not paying him enough attention! I have found that saying "no don't bite mummy" and breaking the seal he has made with my nipple with my finger at the corner of his mouth helps. Might work.

[kimjim]

Thanks scottishmum. Once she's bitten and I've screamed she's already broken the seal lol She slowly seems to be getting the idea that it's not ok to bite mummy though.