I have a 10 month that I have been breastfeeding since the day she was born. Now we did have to give her formula one time when she had to be rehospitialized for jaundice. Here in the last week she has been chewing on me. I know this is from her trying to teeth. So I went out and bought a couple of bottles and gave her some formula. No big deal she took it. There would be times that I knew she wanted to nurse, but litterally ate for 1 min if that long and push away and threw a fit. I swallowed my hurt I knew that it probably hurt her more trying to suck since I wouldn't let her chew on me. So I have been giving her the bottle during the day, and at night she wants to nurse, willingly, and during the night. My question is should I keep doing this or should I give her the bottle during the night as well so she doesn't get confused? Please help any advice would help be better understand.
~S.
I just wanted to let everybody know that I appreciate thier advice. I am glad to know that I can be supported by people I have never met. Kacie is doing great now with two teeth. She quit nursing on her 11 month birthday. I knew it was going to happen eventually. We have ran into the problem of her being lactose intolerant, but does wonderful on the Lacto Free milk. Again THANK YOU!!
~S.
Have you tried Orajel right before you nurse her? That would numb her gums and relieve the urge to gnaw instead of suck. Unless you are ready to wean I would encourage her to nurse so you do not lose supply or she does not start to prefer the bottle.
Good luck and hope you find something that works. :)
J.
Hi! I was wondering if you have a La Leche League(LLL) in your area? They can help you with any support or information on breastfeeding and related issues. LLL has been my go-to and they have just been wonderful helping me with all of my issues. I really trust them. You can find them on the internet and see if there is a group close to you and if not, you can always call any leader and they will be more than happy to help. I could give you my own advice and opinion, but I'd rather you hear it straight from the experts. Good Luck.
Here's the link for LLL groups in the U.S., just click on your state and then town--- http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html
Hello S.!
I have 2 boys, My oldest didnt really latch on all that well after we got home from the hospital. But I really had a lot of sucess with my 2nd boy. He was doing what your daughter is doing. Around the same age about 10.5 months. He started cutting teeth early, I thought no big deal he will adapt to the chewing on other things and know when it's time to eat then he would eat. Boy was I wrong! After him bitting,sucking,chewing on me he really thought it was a game! So I ended up nursing at night a couple of times and durring the day I gave him a soft tip sippy cup with formula deluted more with water. He really didnt like the taste of the formula so I ended up mixing it with alittle juice. It worked for a little while. Then as he got use to the sippy cup durring the day along with whole foods (as in fruits veg. and some baby food) I would only nurse at night. As he got thru the next couple of weeks he seemed like he would prefer the sippy over me! I ended up winging him off of the breast and went straight to the cup. The transition was simple, easy and with him having more food thru the day he slept all night. If YOU arnt ready for that change then I would try to use baby origel before you start nursing maybe that will give her mouth something for the pain! I hope this helps alittle! And GOOD LUCK!!!
i would let her keep nursing at night if she wants to and does well. My daughter only nursed at night the last month that we nursed, and had a bottle at all other feedings and had no problem.
S.,
I too have a 10 month old and I have nursed her since the day she was born (she never would take a bottle, and only had formula her first month when I had an infection). When my daughter cut her teeth she chewed on me as well, and now that she has 5 teeth, she bites time to time. It's fine to give her formula during the day, however, my doctor told me (when I asked about when to ween and how) not to start my daughter on a bottle at 10 months, but to give her formula/milk in a sippy cup or any type of baby cup, because they will get attached to the bottle, and make it harder to break them of it (which she told me I would need to do by a year or so, since she has teeth now). So you might try giving her a sippy cup during the day if you're not nursing. Good luck!
You really should get in contact with La Leche League. They are wonderful ladies. I am the Mom of four kids whom I nursed for at least 15 months each. They all adjusted to the cup easily and pretty much weaned themselves when they were ready. As far as training your child not to bite or chew on you, it's a matter of consistency and persistence. You are going to be bitten occasionally, but if you use the following method, it will be very rare once they learn not to do it. When your child starts to bite down on you, using your finger, break suction, tap the child's mouth with your finger and say, "No biting." I am not saying to slap your child, so please do not misunderstand. It's a light tap with your finger tip just to get the child's attention so that they understand that the reason they've lost the satisfaction for the moment is because of their mouth. There is no pain involved here at all. If the baby bites again, do the same thing, but put the baby down for a minute. When you come back, just repeat the process and say "don't bite" every time. You don't need to be loud or angry at all...just a slightly firmer voice will communicate to the baby that there's a problem. After all, they've never been reprimanded before and this is all totally new to them. When he resumes nursing without biting, just be really soothing and encouraging. He'll notice the difference and he really will try to please you by not biting. This method has worked with all four of my children. I know some women say that babies can not be trained not to bite, but it just take patience and consistency. In my experience, it took me about a week or two of consistent correction to train my babies not to bite. And don't stress out about it. Whatever schedule works for you and your baby is the right one for you. Just keep working at it and trying different things. The baby is fine and it will all work out. You are doing a good job.
I think as long as your child is eating well and having the appropriate amount of dirty and wet diapers, it doesn't matter. People will tell you this is right or that is wrong when it comes to feeding (I'm having some serious issues with my mother-in-law in that department). But as long as your child is eating well, it all boils down to what works best for you and your baby. If it hurts too much for you because of her teething, try pumping and giving her breast milk in a bottle. That is what I do sometimes. My son likes to snack some days and after having him nurse for 10 or 15 minutes every half hour my nipples get a bit sore. So I'll pump and sometimes even have Dad feed my son. Just do whatever works best for the 2 of you... and what feels right for the two fo you.
Its OK to do both actually its a good thing, so when the time comes when you want to ween her from the breast it will be easier. My son is 13months and I was giving him a bottle just of water while I was still nursing him, and at 5months old he was drinking from a sippy cup, water only, he never had nipple confusion. He even sucked a pacifier for a short time while he was an infant, but didnt take to it much. My son is still nursing but only at night, I cut out all the other nursings, as he is getting to old to be nursing. One night he didnt nurse and just fell asleep the next night he nursed.
I say do what makes your daughter happy. Its all about the baby. They say a baby changes everything, isnt that the truth.
Hope that helps
G.
My dearest daughter,
Breastfeeding is definitely a time for bonding with your little one. The old addage of only breastfeeding until the baby is at least one year old is gone with the wind. I feel you should only breastfeed as long as the baby will let you. If your little angel is chewing on you then the bottle, tippy cups and table foods is about the only way to go unless you prefer pain. LOL!! If she wants to feed at night, you are still producing and willing to do so then be happy in it. Enjoy what time you have as this little one will be full grown and married in no time at all.
REMEMBER.....Babies do not come with a guide book. Common sense, support and God's guidance is the best way.
Love, Mom :)
S., as long as you are not uncomfortable and still WANT to nurse, you can try to continue... my son did much the same you have described. I took it as him losing interest and wanting to play rather than nurse. Thus began the weening. My only advice... ween SLOW... super slow... easier on you and her.
There's nothing wrong with continuing to nurse at night. As long as she's getting enough nutrients each day do what works for you and your child. It doesn't seem like she's confused by eating both ways.
