Biting When Nursing

Updated on May 28, 2008
H.J. asks from Berea, KY
17 answers

My 7 1/2 monh old bites me to the point of drawing blood almost every time we nurse. He started when he first got his teeth, then stopped for a month or so. Now he is back at it! I am completley afraid to nurse now, just because it is so painful.

He will bite at any point in the nursing session, so it isn't becuase he is done or I am empty. The only time he hasn't bit me is when he wakes up at night because he is too sleepy.

Right now I am mostly pumping and feeing him with a bottle because of painfulness. I wonder if this makes it worse, because from a bottle he gets instant gratification and constant flow. I do not want this to be a long term solution.

I have read the previous discussion about ending the feeding session and saying 'no' but it hasn't worked.

I was wondering if anyone had any further suggestions? I really want to continue nursing as long as I can and this is really too soon for me to stop. Please help!!!

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So What Happened?

We have been three days without biting, so maybe we're heading in the right direction. I tried many of your suggestions---thank you so much. As I mentioned, I am committed to getting through this and continuing to nurse, so all of your help was very much appreciated.

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T.C.

answers from Nashville on

I can SO RELATE! My daughter did the same thing at 7 1/2 months. This is what I did. She bites, I yell NO really loud, pull her off the breast and put her on the floor where she can't reach me, only see me. She would cry, I felt horrible but knew this would work. Three days of this she finally stopped biting. ALso when before I would latch her on, I would tell her, "if you bite me, you will stop eating" They understand more than we realize. She has not biten me since!

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H.H.

answers from Fayetteville on

Is he teething? Hyland's teething tablets are WONDERFUL. There are homeopathic remedies and my family has used homeopathy now for 4 generations and there is not side effects.

and a nice thing about them is that you can give it every few minutes if the symptoms come back. (up to 10xs a day)

And I would also agree on the thumping on the cheek or chin.

H.

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T.C.

answers from Fayetteville on

I dont know if this would work but you may want to try and use a nipple sheild. It wasn't designed for this but it may serve as a layer or "protection" between you and your baby. I have absolutley no advice on how to get him to stop. My oldest son did this when he was about 7 or 8 months as well but finally I had to stop nursing him because he would cut me and then the cuts would puss green oozy stuff. And as soon as they would start to scab to heal it was time to feed again and they were ripped back open again. After a month or so of trying to pump and even that hurt I finally quit. But I never thought to try the nipple shield....Good luck!!!

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A.R.

answers from Chattanooga on

I understand your pain completely! I nursed my oldest for a year and he was a biter. Typically the biting means he is wanting to eat, if it is not because he is bored and wanting to play. Feed him baby food first, then after he is done eating, let him nurse. This worked for me with both of my boys when they would bite. He doesn't understand that anyone else can feel pain, he is just having the urge to bite, so let him... but on food, not you! You still get plenty of nursing time because after he eats he will be thirsty. Good luck!

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R.B.

answers from Raleigh on

Forgive me for being so blunt...but why would you let your baby boy continue to bite you to the point of blood, and say that it's too soon to stop? I promise he will be okay if you pump, or switch to formula. You will not lose that bond with him if you quit. You're his mommy and will always be his mommy whether you bottle feed or nurse. I feel your pain and just was wondering...why?

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D.P.

answers from Raleigh on

You can buy breast/nipple shields that may help. It may be a little more cumbersome, but at least you won't be in pain. Maybe once the teething has ceased he will stop biting on his own.

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D.S.

answers from Raleigh on

Hedi! Good morning! I am sorry to hear of your problem. I had the same problem w/my daughter. She never stopped bitting, so I stopped breastfeeding almost immediately and pumped some. She was fine. She is now a healthy 8 yr old. I think it would be best to stop breast feeding. Still pump if you want, but save yourself.

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I.M.

answers from Greensboro on

H. go to
http://www.lllusa.org/
La Leche League, they helped me a lot.I am sure they will help you too.This is free advice on the phone or you can meet them. Also at the Health Department there are Breastfeeding consultants that are wonderful too.Again all this help is free.What do you have to lose? Give a try and save your nursing time. You don`t have to suffer like that.Best of luck!!!

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J.H.

answers from Wilmington on

I read this in a parenting book and then it worked for me. I pulled her close to me where her nose was smushed. I spoke sternly and said NO! After a couple of times this shook her up and they didn't do it anymore.

Good luck!

I nursed for almost 2 years. I ended up bottle feeding in day and nursing only at night by the end of it all. I am also a working mom so that made a difference.

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L.S.

answers from Nashville on

"I feel your pain." I have three boys, 17, 11, and 5. My two younger boys were "temporary" biters, although I cannot remember at what age exactly. Anyway, it was advised to me to pluck their cheeks. Now, some moms may be horrified by this so called violent act, but you are not hurting them nor communicating "if you hurt me, I'll hurt you." You don't do it with a lot of force. It is to shock them slightly. If your child is not responding to your saying "no" to this, he will likely not respond to that later when he goes to touch a hot stove or attempt to hurt a playmate. Desginating clear boundariers early is vitally important and this sounds like the opportunity to establish his first. As much as you enjoy nursing, as I did all three of my boys, if he continues to bite, you will simply have to give him the consequence of not having the privilege by stopping altogether. This establishes authority quickly by showing him that his hurtful behavior will not be rewarded and as much as it pains you to stop, to continue to reward this behavior will enforce his ability to manipulate you and not respect your authority later. I know that sounds harsh since he is only a baby, but they are very capable of establishing how to respond to your guilt. His getting "instant gratification" from a constant flow bottle is trivial compared to the satisfaction he'll receive by being able to hurt you while you are trying to nurse and bond (a loving time) with him. Your enjoyment of nursing him is obvious because you stated "this is really too soon for ME to stop." It may not be too soon for him if he is using this as an opportunity to control. I have watched this behavior go unchecked in friends and many of these of precious babies do go on to other destructive behavior later because it goes unchecked and unchallenged beyond a simply word they simply will not respect. And many of those parents wouldn't dream of a little pluck to show that it is simply unacceptable to hurt someone who is trying to bond and spend quality time. Even if this time is temporary, because he is teeting, if he does not willingly stop on his own because he understands it is not acceptable, the biting won't stop when the teething stops. He would very well use it as a game to see if he can get you worked up about it.

About me: I am a 41 year old mom of 3, married 22 years. My boys are the joy of my life - all different but amazing displays of uniqueness in how they celebrate life. I am always in awe.

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A.V.

answers from Knoxville on

have you tried thumping him on the chin? it has to hurt a little, so it is hard to do to a baby, and you might feel bad, but that is the only way i got my son to stop biting me. it really only took a few times of me flicking him pretty hard (made him cry!) and then i would cry from the guilt, but i wanted to keep nursing. i was ready to stop the following week if he didn't stop biting. i would also sharply say NO! or OW! (that didn't take alot of effort!) and he quickly associated his biting down with the loud noise and pain on his chin that followed. he was such a voracious eater (and 10 yrs later, nothing's changed!) that i think he just wanted to "eat" and not drink. i started feeding him more baby foods also and that seemed to help some, but not like the flicking pain.

i hate to tell someone to hurt their baby purposely but it is pretty much that or quit the nursing...

best of luck to you!
A.

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T.C.

answers from Charlotte on

I have a biter also! Try pulling him into your breast, nose and all just long enough to let him know that it is not okay for him to bite you. Two or three times of this and he should stop. I know it's hard to think of this while he is biting you so just be ready for it and when he bites, pull him in and hold him there just long enough. Hope this works for you. Believe me, I know how painful it is! Good luck!
T.

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A.B.

answers from Lexington on

I know this sounds harsh but I've heard it works. I was always told when they bite to stop nursing, sit them down and walk away for a few minutes. That way they realize if they bite, dinner walks away. If you're brave enough to try this, good luck.

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B.M.

answers from Johnson City on

Does he bite in the beginning of the nursing session or just whenever? You said he gets instant gratification from the bottle, so maybe if you try pumping just a bit to get the flow going before putting him to the breast he will get a similar flow.

My daughter was never a biter so I wish I could help you more. She didnt even get teeth until 11 months so she had nothing to bite with lol.

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C.K.

answers from Nashville on

H. J,

You can get nipple guards to place over your nipples. I had to use these and it helps. You moisten them and place them on your nipples and it protects with the biting. They are washable and reusable. You should be able to find them at your local pharmacy. They look like bottle nipples, but are larger and somewhat thicker. GOOD LUCK!

C. K

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J.D.

answers from Greenville on

Hi H.

I am a mother of 4 beautiful children. I have nursed all of them. I had a bitter as well. I just let him know that it hurt and I would take him off the breast and make a loud noise of course because it hurts so bad. A thump on the cheek is a good idea it gets his attention to stop doing that or you will not get any food. It sounds cruel but this does work be consistent. Good luck

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