Ugh!! My seven month old bites when nursing. My other two never did, so this is new. I "take it away" and tell him "No", but he just smiles. He has two bottom teeth, and let me tell ya, OUCH!!!! Any suggestions??
I used to just push their faces into my breast quickly to get them to let go. It only took a few times of that for them to realize biting is not allowed! Good luck :).
I feel your pain!!! Both of my boys were biters, my first one left scars. After a month, I got fed up and decided to do something decisive about this problem. What I did was to stick my pinky finger into the side of his mouth to break suction immediately...as he was biting me. Then I would also immediately put him down, tell him "no biting" and walk into another room. I would wait about 2 minutes, while he cried and eventually calmed down a little. Then I would go back in and hold him for a few minutes until he was all the way calm. If he still wanted to nurse, we would start again, but if he bit again, I repeated the whole procedure. It took him a few days (I think it would have been quicker if I hadn't just let it go for so long) but he figured it out. The main thing is to control your own reaction. Don't let him see that he's startled you. Babies don't understand other people's pain, he'll only notice that he's startled you and will probably find it funny. And don't let him see you get angry. Simply be firm and authoritative and he'll get the point. It's also important to walk away. Babies are social creatures and nothing will teach them so fast as a little isolation. They make the connection very quickly between biting and mommy walking away and they don't forget it.
What worked for everyone in my playgroup....Was saying no, taking it away AND laying the child down for a moment by itself (you not holding it). Only takes a couple seconds of not being held. Then try nursing again. Usually works by 2nd or 3rd time. BE CONSISTENT! Every temperment is different, but he'll not like being laid down at all!
R.
The first time he bit me it startled and hurt so much that I yelled pretty loudly, which in turn startled him and he popped right off and started crying. then no biting for a while. once he bit me because he was having fun (i could just see it in his eyes), and i pinched his nose closed so he had to open his mouth to breathe and then put him on the floor with a firm no. and that was it, no more biting!
Ouch!! Been there. Only my first one did that, I could not get him to stop so I pumped and switched him to bottles. Only to discover that it was because he was ready for solid foods, he was 6mos. To this day, he's about to be 13, the boy has a huge appetite. Try oatmeal or toast or other soft foods that he can gum. Teething hurts and he may be using you to help the pain.
Dear B.,
My son started biting when nursing when he was just four months of age (when he got his first teeth). He always had a firm grip whenevr he nursed, too! What I did to solve this dilemna (as best I could) was that I would pry his teeth apart to some degree to loosen the grip. As he grew, I would firmly, but gently say 'no' along with the prying of the teeth.
I hope this helps!
Blessing!
J. F.
Something that has worked for my mom and girlfriend is to flick the baby's cheek with your index finger when you say no. Both babies cried like the dickens, but never bit again.
My daugther did that to me three times. Each time I yelled, then looked at her and told to stop or she would be getting her milk another way. She stopped. When I yelled it scared her so she knew that she hurt me. Hope this helps.
When your baby bites...lightly thump him on the nose and say NO...its sensitive...but works...its also the best way to train a cat...they listen to a light thump on their noses....to disapline....Worked for me
Michlle
I know this maybe tricky with 2 other kids but try to completely pay attention when you are nursing. I have had a couple that did this for a while and then the stage passed. I keep a finger right by their mouth when they are nursing and if I feel them at all begin to clamp down I put my finger in and break the latch by pulling down on their jaw. They do not like this very much and then I let them latch back on if they just keep biting then we take a break from nursing for 5-10 min and then if they want to try again. Sometimes when they are teething and very interested in the world they forget themselves and bite. Hang in there I know it hurts. this too shall pass
The advice you've already received is great. I just wanted to say that I feel your pain, and that you should stick with it. I have always been very committed to nursing, but the biting ALMOST made me give up. Just try not to let him see how much it hurts you and follow the advice below. Good luck!
Hi B.,
Yeah, this has happened to me too. I would either say a firm NO to my daughter, which would result in either a smile or crying, or I would pinch her nostrils closed, not too hard, so that she would have to pull off the boob to get some air. I would squish her face against my boob so that she would also have to pull off, but she loved it when I did that and laughed thinking it was a game, hence, pinching the nostrils instead. AFter a few times of this, she would get the picture and not bite. Good luck!
It sounds mean, but as soon as he bites, take him off, say "No biting!" & then put him down on the floor & turn your back on him like you are ignoring him.
My son's pediatrician told me to try this when my son was biting me bloody, and it worked w/in 3 nursing sessions - and I went on to nurse him to 16 months.
Also, when he bites, try not to pull him off b/c it will just scrape you -- if you press his face in a little bit into your breast to cover his nose, he will let go b/c he has to breathe. The lactation consultant shared that one!
Good luck!
