Hi Ladies,
My 8 mo. old son has his first two teeth (the bottom ones), he's had them for about a month now. He started biting me when they first came in, and I told him "No" in a firm voice and he'd stop. He recently started biting me again this week, and when I say "No"- instead of letting up he clamps down harder! Ouch! I've added a light little finger flick on the cheek when I say no, which my mom said worked on us, but it isn't working. What has worked for you with your babies? I was planning on breastfeeding till he's 1 year old, but this biting is getting painful.
Thanks!
Thanks to everyone for all the great advice! I covered up his nose quickly two separate times to get him to release and said "No biting" while looking into his eyes and stopped nursing. If he does it again I'll add in the advice to set him on the floor or in his crib and to leave hit sight for 1 minute- I thought that sounded effective too. We haven't had any bites while nursing for a few days! He does nip me though when he's done, almost like he's grazing me with his teeth trying to release (while wiggling around). Any thoughts on that? Thank you all again, I was almost cringing with the fear of bites each time we'd nurse and feel much more confident in knowing I can teach him how to "nurse nicely!"
When my son bit I would stop feeding him, pull him off the breast and tell him no. There were a few times I had to pry him off, but once he got the idea that biting meant a break in his meal things went a bit easier. Good luck!
A sort of untraditional answer, I know, but at my mommy and me group we were advised to gently and quickly cover our babies nostrils, that they would release immediately. They hate this and will stop the habit, they are quite able to nurse without biting
What worked for me was to take my nipple out of his mouth and tell him firmly 'no'. I kept doing it until he understood that he wouldn't get fed unless he quit hurting me! It worked and we are still going at a year old!
When my youngest decided he was going to bite, I tried the nice method of telling him no but that turned into being funny so I would tell him no biting firmly and either put him in his crib or swing and walk away for a minute or two. The biting stopped soon after he realized that biting means no nursing. When I came back hegenerally had a different attitude. I just stopped nursing him at 20 months.
First off, he needs pain relief so he isn't inclined to clench (the counter-pressure when he clenches gives him pain relief, but will make YOUR toes curl!)
I would give him orajel and tylenol. The orajel will give instant relief and the tylenol will give long term relief.
I advise fellow breastfeeding moms to first handle the child's underlying reason for biting (pain), then handle the psychological part:
The instant he bites, say "NO!" is a LOUD, firm voice, break his suction with your finger in the corner of his mouth, get up and put him on the floor and walk away. It has to be done in quick succession so it is startling for him. It may take 2 or 3 times, but I have never had the technique fail. The combination of your sudden change in personality and being put down and "left behind" usually is enough to get the point across. But as I said, #1 has to be pain relief FIRST.
:)
Similar to below, I was told to smush the baby into your breast and have them release (rather than trying to remove them). That has worked for me. Also, at that age you can stop the nursing and wait until he is hungry again. Put him down and say No (as you did before) but have it be the end of the nursing session. That worked for me as well. They figure out pretty quick they don't get to nurse if they are biting.
J
This happened to a friend of mine too. Her daughter started biting at 6 months. When her daugher bit her, she said "ouch" in a rather loud voice, dettached her from her breast, and set her down on the floor. They resumed nursing 15 minutes later, so her daughter understood that biting = no nursing. This only happened twice, and she never bit her again. Good luck!
I've never seen the following method NOT work for this problem, so here it is:
When he clamps down, stick your pinky finger in the side of his mouth to break suction (if you try to pull him off without doing this you can damage your nipple) you can also use your pinky to pry his jaws open enough to get your nipple out of his mouth.
Then, look in his eyes and tell him "no biting" in a firm voice
Then, put him down and walk out of his line of sight
Stay away for one minute (still listening for him of course to make sure he's alright.) Then come back and start nursing again.
Repeat this every time he bites you. It will tell him that biting makes mommy and the nurse go away. He doesn't want that to happen. When you do this, you are teaching him about consequences. Once he figures it out, he will correct his own behavior, which is always the prefered method since it sticks better.
Both of my boys stopped biting within 2 days and when I told my younger sister about this, her daughter stopped biting within 1 day.
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Oh and Hyland's Teething Tablets (available from most pharmacies, they are OTC but sometimes the pharmacist keeps them behind the counter) are fantastic for easing his gum discomfort which is the reason he bites in the first place. Combine the tablets with orajel and/or tylenol and his relief will be as great as yours.
My sil had this happen to her. She tried all of the tricks, until one day, he bit so hard that his teeth touched and she bled a lot. She never nursed him again and he was fine.
Hey L.,
Woooo Mama. Yeah. All of mine did that. All boys and all clamped down harder - with teeth! OW! I'm hoping my next one (Due in June - also a boy...any recipes for girls out there??)...I'm hoping my next one doesn't do it quite as bad.
This sounds mean.
No one will like this.
But I totally popped mine in the face for doing it.
*GASP!*
I know, I know. But look - I didn't whack them hard. I slapped the cheek I could reach with the flat side of my first three fingers and said, "Ouch!! No-NO!"
It worked. And they all stopped after about 5 or 6 times of doing it. To me, it was worth it. Just don't do it hard - and don't make a mean face or use an angry voice because that will terrify them. Just do it enough that you know it didn't feel good and give them some time to relate the two actions.
Good luck! My big 'ole lummoxes learned... eventually!
