My 5 1/2 month old son is teething. He has two teeth coming in on the bottom, and he will bite down on me every time I feed him. I really want to continue nursing, but it hurts so much! What have you done or heard to help relieve the pain?
2006-08-04 14:45:47 · 10 answers · asked by darker_pegasus 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Mama please don't listen to bad advice. I have an 8 mo old that cut his first two bottom teeth at 4 mos. What I did was everytime he chomped down I gave him a firm "no" and unlatched him. He didn't like that since he was hungry so after just a few days he understood and stopped biting. It will get better I promise. I know it hurts at first but with perseverence it will be ok. My baby now is getting his top 4 teeth and i have to go through that all over again but it's worth it. Hang in there! Email me if you need any extra encouragement..i'm here for you
2006-08-04 15:00:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, determine when and why he is biting. Some babies learn to bite as a way to signal that they are done. In this case, stop the feeding when he starts losing interest, and don't wait for the bite!!
Some babies bite to get your attention. He may be telling you to stop doing other things while nursing him. If you look into his eyes while he nurses, it will probably stop.
And there are babies that bite accidentally because they are so interested in their surroundings that they turn around to look and forget to let go. Nursing in a dark, quiet room most of the time may help.
Once he *does* bite, immediately detach him, put him on the floor, and say "No!!" Be sure to say it strongly enough that he knows it's not a game (if he laughs, you weren't tough enough!), but not so harshly as to scare him. Then don't nurse him again immediately. (At his age, "not immediately" may mean 2-5 minutes.) He will catch on quickly.
2006-08-06 04:50:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When he bites if you're having a hard time getting him to let go, you can press his face into your breast for a sec and it will make him open his mouth. If you detach him ever time he does it, he will learn not to bite you. It's very important to say "OUCH and NO" when you do it.
The other thing is if he's biting towards the end of the nursing session it means he's not hungry anymore. A baby can't nurse when they're biting. It's too different from a sucking action and they don't get milk.
2006-08-04 22:34:26 · answer #3 · answered by C K Platypus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 11 month old did this and still does sometimes. I have completely taken it away from him for a few minutes until I don't hurt as much and then offer it again. I have broken the connection with my finger to relieve the pressure. One of the best things I have found though is to not let him get really upset before I try to feed him because if he is upset he clenches more. Keep trying, I find that it is worth it especially cause you have the desire.
2006-08-04 22:02:31 · answer #4 · answered by momof4 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did not nurse my kids. my older two I was convinced I couldn't do it, my youngest my milk did not come in because of a stressful situation. Anyway, I was told that if they bit to use you pinky to break the latch and take them off. Say something like ouch or no as you take them off and it will help them realize that mom is not a teething ring. Take them off each time they bite. Of course I never tried it, but was told it works. The only bad thing it sounds like nursing may take two hours if you have a biter! Good Luck.
2006-08-04 21:53:49 · answer #5 · answered by mommyofthree 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brenda B had it right. Just taking them off the breast should convince them that something was wrong. If my son actually bit to be mean ( literally look at me smile and chomp ) I handed him off witha big "NO" or if I was alone held him while doing something else to make it clear that he'd done something wrong. He never became a bad biter but he liked an excited reaction because it's funny. Try not to jump or yelp and good luck. PS when you unlatch him switch breasts if you can to show you're starting again , all new to show him a change.
2006-08-04 22:23:30 · answer #6 · answered by emily 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel your pain! It is harder to nurse when your baby is teething. I agree that the best advice is to break the suction with your pinky and say NO firmly. Wait a few minutes and then try again. Please don't give up this really does work it just takes time. Best of luck!
2006-08-05 08:19:09 · answer #7 · answered by confused by court order 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only feed him when he is acctually hungry and he should not bit so often, some babies what to eat just for the closeness, so just try to wait for a while to make sure he is hungry.
2006-08-04 22:37:18 · answer #8 · answered by Amber D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I gave my daughter a cold wet washcloth and she loved it. She carried it everywhere chewing on it. Also popcicles...it's a way to keep them quiet and content for a while. Oh...and try alternating between Tylenol and Motrin. Helped (and is still helping) us A LOT!
2006-08-04 21:51:13 · answer #9 · answered by no one 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put him on a bottle
2006-08-04 21:49:34 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋