Need advice on how to stop an 8 month old from biting while nursing.?

Question

My daughter is biting me every time she nurses (and hard)! I tried "no" loud enough to startle her, but that didn't work, and I've tried the gentle "no biting mommy", but that didn't work either. Any other suggestions?

Answer 1

You have to say "No!" loud and strong enough for her to get the message that it's not acceptable *without* scaring her. If she laughs at you, it wasn't strong enough; if she jumps or gets startled, it was too harsh. Then place her on the floor and don't nurse again right away (at her age, that might mean not for 5-10 minutes).

At the same time, keep a close eye on her. Babies bite for a number of reasons, and if you watch her, you'll probably be able to tell why and when she's *about* to bite. For one thing, a baby can't bite and nurse at the same time. If you see her stop nursing, then detach her immediately before she has a chance to bite. But, more than that, you may see that she always bites as a way of telling you that she's *done* nursing. In this case, you'll know in the future to put her down *immediately* when she finishes before she bites. Or...it may seem that she's biting when her gums hurt. If this is the case, let her chew on a frozen wet washcloth right before nursing to help her sore gums.

There is *no* reason you need to wean--the World Health Organization recommends nursing for *at least* 2 years. You don't even have to give her solids, bottles, or cups if you haven't already (they're not *necessary* until baby's first birthday). But it is really important to teach her that biting is *not* acceptable.

Answer 2

Some of these people are just idiots don't listen to them. Eight months old is way too young to be weaned. The best way to curb this habit is before it starts. It's impossible to bite while actively nursing because the tongue rests over the bottom teeth. When a baby gets a new tooth they have to learn to latch on and suck around it and sometimes it gets snagged on the breast. Every time my daughter gets a new tooth it takes a few days to re-learn the process. When you notice that the baby is done sucking get ready to break the suction gently with your finger and end the nursing. If she does bite on purpose say no gently and remove the breast for awhile. Yelling at her can cause a nursing strike and that is way worse than a bite in my opinion.

Good luck and congrats on breastfeeding.

Answer 3

Have you tried saying "no" and setting her down? Make her take a break from the nursing so she realizes that when she bites it means an end to the milk - temporarily as it is. Don't give up nursing yet - it is still too good for the baby and you! You can make it through this. Just be persistant. I nursed both my kids till after they were three years old. Teeth don't have to mean that it is time to stop nursing.

Answer 4

WHATEVER, to all the people telling you to stop nursing. (I'm sure you're not nursing exclusively (i.e. you've started your daughter on solids and probably even on table foods) and that you do offer sippy cups with water, right?)

Both of my kids went through biting phases, usually when their teeth were hurting. And I nursed them both 'til just past their first birthdays.

Try giving her some Motrin 20 minutes before you nurse. If her teeth are bothering her, it will ease the pain and keep her from using you as a chew toy.

Give her lots of opportunities to chew on other things.

And if she doesn't respond to the "no," take a break. You don't have to quit nursing, or even skip an entire nursing session (although skipping one occasionally at this point won't hurt either of you). You just want to make the point that if she doesn't want to nurse, that's fine, but no biting!

I also found that my girls were more likely to bite if they were overtired, not hungry, or overstimulated. Or if *I* was stressed out and trying to rush through nursing them.

Hope that helps...

Answer 5

Push her face into the breast. She will have to pull off to breath. Don't startle her by saying no...just keep pushing her little face up against you every time she bites and she will get the message. I attend breastfeeding meetings at my pediatrician once a month. This was the advice given by the lactation consultant. Don't stop nursing her. Work with her, it'll get better. Good luck!

Answer 6

My daughter would & my son (also 8 months) does bite while nursing. Besides the verbal reminder the only other suggestion I could give is to just stop the nursing session and tell her that hurts and she all done for now. Good luck - they do stop eventally.

Answer 7

I think this means she's becoming a big girl, well big enough to start a sippy cup or if you prefer a bottle. I would recommend a sippy cup because sooner or later you have to ween her off the bottle. Don't feel bad that you're doing the wrong thing by not breastfeeding anymore. The first three months are the months that babies really need to be breastfed. You can do it....

Answer 8

Here's your best answer (even works with toddlers who bite): With the child's mouth open, put the pad of your thumb on her bottom teeth or gums, push down ever so gently and say "no biting." The position of your thumb makes it difficult for her to close her teeth, and she'll associate that with not biting. Remove her from the breast and do this every time she bites.

Answer 9

Try gently tapping her on the check and saying "no" when she does it. Sometimes that's enough to get their attention. I stopped nursing my children when they biting started and since you've gotten 8 months in you've done a great job. It may be time to start pumping and feeding her with a bottle.

Answer 10

Take Pavlov's approach! When she bites, stop the nursing session (until a later time when she is more calm) !
You are giving her the healthiest start by nursing and stick with it. Good luck!