Baby Nursing § Biting OUCH!!!!! Help

[blondie72]

My DS has 3 teeth and it looks like 2 more are going to pop any minute and he is biting me like crazy.  My DD never bit this much so I am at a loss.  I do not want to stop nursing him (although some days I do not want to do it anymore) but I cannot take the biting anymore.  I firmly tell him NO BITE and pull him off and then he is fussy.  I try to put him back on the breast and he nurses for a few minutes and then is biting again.  Any other suggestions on what I can do????  Thank you

[cinnamonheart]

Hi hun!! Its your pal  cinnamon
Never breastfed (well i tried) but Now that he is eating solids maybe he is not as hungry? nurses a bit to get what he wants then sort of plays by taking a chunk out of you!!

[nanakay]

i say try some oragel....usually they bite to releive the pain of cutting teeth. so if you eliminate that pain first maybe he'll stop biting
~nanci

[Still_AndiJ]

No orajel, he may bite as a result of it (not be able to feel) and won't be able to nurse effectively. Always nurse before offering solids, solids shouldn't provide their main source of nutrition : )

I went through this with Tristan (still do sometimes)When he bites, I push his face into the breast and he lets go, he rarely bites now. Also, sometimes he bites when he is distracted or just not hungry. If that is the case, I duck into the bedroom to feed or ask my 3 year old to play quietly somewhere else.

If you think it is teething pain, have you tried the teething tablets? They do not numb the mouth, so it may offer some relief for him so he can eat peacefully.

Remember, even after starting solids, they still need to nurse several times a day or drink 32 ounces of formula, regardless of the amount of solids going in/ This is why it is important to offer nursing or a bottle first, rather than stuffing them full of solids first.

Andrea

[nanakay]

yah now that you put it that way i guess it would be hard  to eat with a numb mouth.....kind of a funny image if you picture it.
sorry
~nanci

[blondie72]

Thanks girls.  I only do a few solids.  I do nurse quite often.  I do have the teething tablets but have not really used them lately but I guess I will go back to it.  I was told by my dr as well not to do orajel because they could choke.  My sister swore by that stuff though.  I will go back to the teething tabs and try pushing his face to my breast.  Again thanks for the suggestions.  You are always so helpful.

[nanakay]

how about sending us some snow!!!!

our summers servive on our snow pack, which we have none of.  we are only in the beginning of march and are all ready being told to conserve water!
~nanci

[blondie72]

I cannot believe you have to conserve water already.  I do not think we are going to have to worry about that this year.  We have had so much snow this winter.  Where are from????  I forgot.  I think you said before.  Well I will try to send this your way.  You and Shubunkin can send your weather here.  Thanks and Take Care

[nanakay]

i live in washington state.  you know the evergreen state....or now i think we are thinking about the everbrown state.
~nanci

[blondie72]

I always thought Washington had snow and was cold all the time.  Maybe I am thinking of something else.  It is pretty rainy there though isn't it???  Well I hope it all works out there for you guys.  Good Luck and Take Care

[nanakay]

it depends on where in washington you live....if you live on the east side of the mountains, it is (usually) very cold and snowy in the winter and very hot and dry in the summer. if you live on the west side of the mountains it is (usually) pretty cold and wet all winter and warm and dry in the summer.
the last couple of years have been weird.  this year has all ready proven odd.  we haven't had any rain to speak of in oveer a month.
~nanci

[carolyn55806]

The key to stop the biting (both my kids did this) is to not let them latch on again right away. Say "NO BITE" in a VERy firm voice, without laughing or joking and take him off the breast for at least ten minutes. Do this everytime and it will work!

[Still_AndiJ]

Wherein WA do you live? I am from Spokane but live in Bremerton now : ) Most of my family is in Spokane and I give my best friend weather predictions based on our weather,lol. She never has to watch the news.

Very unseasonal weather here in WA the last few years. In Bremerton we hit 70 today!

Andrea