Sick and Biting While Nursing

Hi T.,
When my son was 9 months old & he bit me, that is when I said no more breastfeeding. He didn't have a problem being winged either. I used a Carnation Good Start formula as a substitute. Babies who are sick, its best to give him juices til the fever subsides. Milk upsets the stomach when a child has a fever or not feeling good. Good luck, G.

Hi T.,

My suggestion is to work on getting him well - in holistic health, they say not to eat but to drink fluids with a cold or flu. Perhaps his digestion system is trying to do that. If it were me, I would use Silver Shield (available at http://www.mynsp.com/morethanherbs - safe for babies as well as adults. This can help with infection, inflammation, etc. You can also put this in his ear on a cotton ball, leave it in for 4-5 minutes. I would also try peppermint essential oil, rub it on his tummy - good for the digestive system. Remember, when we as adults don't feel well, we usually don't want to eat anything - that's the way our bodies work. Babies just go with how they feel - just go with it and work with helping him feel better from another direction.

Blessings,
B. C., Holistic Health Coach
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Certified Newborn Massage Instructor
Certified Applied Aromatherapy Instructor
Certified Reflexologist
EFT-CC (Emotional Freedom Technique)
NSP Herb Specialist

If he's biting then he's not hungry because they can't nurse and bite at the same time. My son (also 8 months) as bitten me on occasion. I take it away and say no biting and give him something he can bite on. He's learning that mommy's breasts are not for biting.
Mines is also teething something serious so I know that he really does feel the need to bite on something. Also, just watch him when he nurses, you can tell if he's needed to bite on something, his mouth will change (nursing and biting positions are very different).

My son is 11 months and is also a biter. He started at about the same age as your little guy. My strategy was to say "no" firmly and then quickly put him down and walk away. It really made him mad and he figured it out pretty rapidly - no more cozy mom lap and warm milk - now I'm on the floor by myself. hmmmmm.

If he's biting because he's sick, I would say, try to ride it out and see if it continues once he's feeling better. My son still bites but now it's my leg or shoulder if he's frustrated because I'm not paying attention to what he's asking for. He doesn't ever bite my breasts any more. Actually, he had a head cold a few weeks back and couldn't breath while nursing and he bite me then, but only twice. I cut him some slack because he felt so crummy.

Hang in there, you guys will work through it. I was considering stopping nursing and I'm so glad I didn't.

L.

Dear T.,
I'm sorry to hear your little one has been sick and I hope he'll be feeling better soon.
My mom always said that when a kid starts biting, it's time to stop nursing. Believe me, the first time my son clamped down on me, I was ready to be done. However, I pressed on. But, every time he bit, I told him "NO BITING", took the breast away, and gave him a teething ring or something else to bite on. I did it EVERY time.
He truly did get it figured out that mommy's boobs were not for chomping and I happily nursed him until he was 15 months old. If he hadn't quit biting, I would have stopped nursing sooner, but he got the hang of it.
Your little one may be biting because he either isn't really hungry or he just doesn't feel good. Try giving him a bottle with water in it or offering a teething ring so if he wants to bite, he can, but he just can't bite you.
Since he's already getting breast milk in a bottle and nursing at night, I wouldn't worry too much about it for now. Just keep doing what you're doing and hopefully, when he feels better, he'll go back to nursing without biting more often.
Best wishes!

I'm sure he is just not feeling well. Be patient. Once he's feeling better he'll return to normal nursing. Hang in there!
V.
mother of two boys - 1 nursed for 12 months, the second for 14 months

When biting continued I stopped nursing.

She would bite, I would put away the lunch counter. I always had a bottle in the frig in case she was still hungry, but the boob stayed away until the next meal.

After the 6th time, I didn't bring it back. I pumped and moved on.

S

Hi T.,

My son (14 months and nursing) has bitten me when he's sick. No fun. I think it is mostly an issue when he is congested and can't breathe well and nurse well simultaneously. After the congestion has cleared, he's been able to nurse fine again. I hope this passes soon for you both.

I would not give up now - esp. since now more than ever he needs your antibodies and comfort. He is overall likely biting because of a lazy latch they get when they are abit older. This link has great ideas for stopping biting (read a bit down the page for the older babies though the stuff on top is good too): http://community.livejournal.com/breastfeeding/1332126.html

He may also be biting b/c his teeth hurt. Try helping him with Hyland's teething tablets around 10-15 mins prior to nursing. NO teething gels as it forces the baby to have to clamp to feel what they are doing. Cool wet washrags are good.

My baby would also sometimes bite when she wanted solids instead of nursing.

IMO formula answers formula questions. BF answers help BF questions. You might also check in with a La Leche League leader (www.llli.org) or a lactation consultant who can help you IRL with latch.