Help! Baby is biting while BF

So, Braeden is getting his first tooth, and he's started biting me every once in awhile. Most of the time I think its just an accident, like he'll hear something across the room, and turn his head, but not want to let go of the boob to do so. But last night he would bite like he was playing with my nipple, then when I would tell him "no biting mommy!" and take it away, he would laugh.  I think he thought we were playing a game or something.  He's been playing at his bottle recently, where he'll bite down and then pull away, and it makes a funny noise when it catches on his tooth. I think that's what he was trying to do to me last night. But how do I get him to stop when he thinks its funny when I tell him no?

[allmymarbles]

Wean him. He has had enough breast milk.

[bluegenie2003]

That's not an option. I'm planning on breastfeeding AT LEAST until he's a year old, and older if he and I both still want to. He's only 8 months old so definitely hasn't had "enough breast milk".  Its the best thing for him. I just want some suggestions on what to do to make him understand that he can't bite. I know he's not doing it to hurt me, he just knows he does it to his bottle and its ok, so why not mommy.

[nola0805]

I have not experienced this yet but from what I read on this forum before, you are doing exactly what others have recommended,  I would continue telling him "no" and taking it away - he may laugh, but if you do not respond to his laughter, he will eventually figure out that this is not allowed or at least figure out that biting leads to a stop in feeding.  I would also suggest discouraging his playing at the bottle by biting (in the same way - tell him no and take the bottle away) - as he may not be able to distinguish that biting the bottle is okay but biting the breast is not.  

[bluegenie2003]

That's what I asked my mother to do yesterday. Its hard becuase I'm not usually there when he gets a bottle. He gets one every once in awhile at night because he tends to sleep better (since he'll drink more before falling asleep), but when I'm with him he nurses.  I'm trying hard to watch for signs he's going to bite. It seems to be when he's not really hungry, so yesterday I would take him off as soon as he started to lose interest, and I only got bitten twice last night! Its an improvement!

[jenstam]

"Wean him, he has had enough breastmilk"
WOW, what great advice! Sheesh!
Anyhow, my son did this when he was teething also. I startled him a few times by saying "NO!" loudly, and then immediately taking my breast away. It worked. I know how badly that hurts, but like you said, weaning is not an option. My son thought it was funny at first as well, but I did not return a smile. He will understand after a few times. I actually bled from a few of his bites! OUCH!! I hope this works! Keep us posted!

[bluegenie2003]

Jenstam- Ouch!  I haven't bled yet thank goodness!  I think he's doing it because he's found that if he holds down on the bottle nipple and then pulls away fast, it makes a funny noise, and is doing it to see if it works on me too. (and I do make a funny noise! Just not the same one his bottle makes lol!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I agree w/ jenstam in that the first advice you were given was not great nor was it supportive!  Anyway, I also agree w/ continuing to tell him no and stop feeding him for a few minutes.  He will get the picture pretty quickly.  As he gets older, his bite will only get harder and with more teeth!!  I too have bled from bites and it hurts really bad.  Mary isn't as bad about it as she once was, but I still get bitten sometimes.  I tell her no very firmly and put her down.  But she is 16 months old too.  Hopefully I can wean her soon.  I need a break before the next one!!!

[Clysta]

What do you do if your baby doesn't take pacifiers or bottles? My daughter is 4 months old and gums and chews on the nipple and it hurts a lot. She mostly likes to bit the very tip making it hurt worse. I tell her no and take her off, but I don't know how much she really understands. Do I just keep up with the same pattern? She is cutting three teeth.

[Ecologic]

Weaning can be an option - teeth is why many women stop breastfeeding. I may have to stop breastfeeding soon because of that: my baby is 7,5 months old, he already has 6 nicely formed teeth and this week he bit me so hard that I yelled loudly, it drew blood. The nipple is still very sensitive.

He has been excited in the morning, generally he used to be quite gentle when nursing but these past few days he has been very agitated, he barely naps (used to take 2 hrs nap last week!) - we suspect that these are side effects from an antibiotics he has to take for an ear infection.

Anyway, I am very wary about nursing him around noon now and as soon as I fear he is going to bite, I stop and give him a bottle of formula. Hopefully my boy will be more gentle soon... or I will really consider stopping breastfeeding very soon.

A tip for you: you can use silicone nipples if the pain is too much. I am thinking of doing it with my injured boob.

[zazou]

When my daughter started doing that, I also used the loud No and it was stern and then she got the point. Now at almost 19 months, she does it to get a reaction out of me and either I tell her don't do it as it hurts and I will cry (then she pretends cries LOL) or on a really cheeky day, well, maybe it is a bit hard, but I tell her if she does it she will get time out in her room and I have only had to do that once until now. Today she pulled my nipple with her teeth so I stopped breastfeeding her, stood up and told her no more milk as you have hurt me. Then she gave me a kiss. So you just have to be consequent and don't listen to others who tell you to stop breastfeeding just because your child bites you.

BTW: For those that have sore nipples from baby biting or poor latching (I had that in the beginnin)g, I used Lanolin (from a company called Lansinoh) and that was recommended by my mid-wife who was also my lactation consultant. I was really on the verge of using a shield and Lanolin really helped.

[bluegenie2003]

Braeden seems to be getting a little better. He definitely understands now that he's not supposed to bite.  But he's definitely testing me now. He's started letting go of my nipple, then smiling (with this really mischievious smile!). Then he'll bite REALLY softly, and let go right away to see my reaction. I've just been telling him no, and covering up my breast with my hand or shirt.  Usually when I allow him to go back (after a minute or two, depending on how he reacts) he's been fine.  If he doesn't seem to mind it being taken away, I just let him play for awhile and then feed him later. Thanks for all of the advice so far! I'll keep everyone posted!

Clysta:  Have you tried offering her the bottle when she's very hungry?  Also, maybe having someone other than you offer the bottle the first few times would help.  Good luck!

[Clysta]

I have actually. Multiple people have attempted it and she just gets frantic and chokes on it. Thursday my sister kept her for 11 hours while I was having surgery and she refused a bottle from her, my mom and other sister the entire time. She used to take them just fine when she was a month and two old, but now refuses to take any. (and we've tried dozens of them as well) My sister also tried feeding her by syringe and even that didn't work. She said she just spit it out and screamed.

[bluegenie2003]

I know she's a little young, but have you tried a sippy cup?  Braeden will take a bottle, but he's not a huge fan of it, but he LOVES his sippy cup. I know she's a little young for one, but if she'll take it, at least you know she's getting SOME milk. You'd probably have to take out the little rubber thing inside the lid so that she doesn't have to suck on it to get the liquid out until she's a little older.  Just tip it up for a couple of seconds so she gets a sip.  Braeden is almost 9 months and he's just now getting that he's supposed to suck on the tip of the cup to get the liquid to come out, so we've been using them until now without the rubber thing.

[Clysta]

Ive not done that yet. I didn't know if it was too early. I might have to get one and see how she handles that. She sometimes will take breastmilk off one of her spoons, but that's slow and she gets frustrated. Thanks. :)

[Diane1003]

I would call out "Ow!" - because it hurt and I wanted to shock the baby.  I was bit my my son when he was about 6 mos when he was teething.  I'd look down at home and say "No!" and then I'd put him on my shoulder and burp him.  I'd offer the next side.  Any time he'd bit me or clench his jaws I'd do this and he got the hang of it.  Sometimes we'd go back and forth several times with side to side to side to side...

[caellie]

I have the same problem when my son falls asleep while still latched on my nipple. something my mom taught me when my son bites is to push the breast instead of pulling it away so he will willingly let go of it. If you pull, he'll just bite even more to hold on to the nipple.

[Ecologic]

My baby (8 months old) only bitted a couple of times for a few days then he stopped. He was getting his 7th tooth so that's very certainly the explanation. Waiting for the 8th one now...