My 5 month old is only breastfed. She has two tiny teeth and they are sharp. She bit me today and I thought I was going to cry. I breastfed before and did not have this problem. She will not take a bottle or a cup and I enjoy nursing- not the biting. Any suggestions? Thanks!
2006-08-30 22:17:01 · 13 answers · asked by toricp3 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Here's the technique I developed to spare my wife from that nipple bite (all of our kids are breastfed):
Whenever the baby is about to bite harder, remove her from the breast. Curl your middle finger into a knuckle so that the flesh are bunched in that finger. Then give it to her to bite on. Make sure that the bite is into the flesh, not the bone (that will really hurt!) and it will be more endurable. BUT... make sure your finger is clean!
Babies have that tendency to be biters every now and then. When they're happy or excited, they'd bite (when they become adolescents, they'd hug you so tight... almost like a python, grrr!). It is normal and that is their emotional outlet.
ENDURE! I do not recommend substitutes like teething plastics, they want that flesh, believe me.
2006-08-30 22:28:58 · answer #1 · answered by Bummerang 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Biting is NOT an indication that it is time to wean. All you have to do is to work with her and she will learn not to bite. This is the first chance to work on discipline and manners for some mother-baby pairs!
First off, I'd suggest that you try to determine WHY she is biting. Try to determine if there is any pattern to when she has been biting. This might help you prevent biting.
If it is at the start of a nursing session, it is likely that it is due to teething. Take her off and give her a cold, hard teether to bite on. (An ice cube or "boob cube" in a Baby Safe Feeder or tied into a baby sock, a wet frozen washrag, a cold and hard stalk of celery.)
If it is at the end of a session and she is still awake, it may be a way that she is signaling that she is done. She may be "playing around" instead of actually trying to nurse. She CAN NOT nurse and bite at the same time since her tongue covers her gums when she is nursing properly. If this is the case, keep a close eye on her and keep your hand nearby so you can break the suction and end the nursing session when you notice she is no longer actively nursing.
If it is at the end of a session and she is falling asleep, it may be that her head is not supported well enough. If they fall asleep and you aren't doing a good job of supporting their head, they can get the sensation that they are falling and will clamp down in order to "catch" themselves.
If you do get bitten again, take her off the breast and very firmly say, "NO biting" and put her down on the floor or some safe place. She will cry because of this most likely. Remember.....this is a first step towards teaching manners and discipline! Let her fuss about it for just a minute.
One good way to get her to let go if she is biting down is actually to press her face into your breast. She will have to let go to breathe then.
Try hard not to yell out if she bites you. Sometimes a huge reaction if funny to them and they'll do it over and over because they think you are funny.
The link below will also be helpful to you. Be patient and consistent and you CAN teach her not to do this. I've been through it with all three of my kids.....they DO learn not to do it!
2006-08-31 07:47:17 · answer #2 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's getting used to new teeth. I had this problem with my son.
Every time she bites, remove your nipple and gently press the inside flesh of her lip against the tops of her teeth. Look her in the eyes and say, "No biting. Ouch. No biting."
Put her back on the breast and continue nursing. If she bites again, immediately stop nursing and repeat. Repeat, repeat, repeat. You may have to do it ten times the first feeding you try it, but it will gradually happen less often over the next 3 to 7 days. The most important thing is to be consistent so that she associates biting with going off the breast.
Good luck and more comfortable nursing.
2006-08-31 06:23:10 · answer #3 · answered by baggyk 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I breastfed my daughter till she was 16 months. Mine didn't get her first teeth till she was about 10 months old, but when she did.. Oh boy. What I did when she would bite me was to take her off and tell her no sternly and then I would wait to nurse her again for a few minutes. Mine liked the fact that she could bite me and I would screech, but mine was older so that was a fun thing that i had to break her from, didn't take very long. For you though since she is so much younger, I think taking her off and telling her no sternly would really help, try to yelp and be as calm as you can. YOU DO NOT have to quit nursing because your kiddo has teeth, that is one of the most asinine things I have ever heard. You do what you feel is right, i feel for ya, its not always easy but when is parenting easy.
2006-08-31 05:46:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well since a 5 month old isnt really going to know what you're saying, I certainly wouldnt scold her.
There's really not much you can do. I nursed my children and they did the same thing. Just one of the only drawbacks to breast feeding.
Just wait til she gets teeth on the top AND bottom. YEOUCH!!
2006-08-31 05:26:50 · answer #5 · answered by Beetlehead 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take her off and tell her sternly No biting. It will make her cry fr a minute, but she shouldn't bite much unless she is getting more teeth in. then good luck.
2006-08-31 05:20:58 · answer #6 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
bitting...ouch! Take the nipple away from her when she does bite to teach her a little lesson. She will fuss for a while but will realize that if she bites, the nipple will be taken away.
2006-08-31 08:40:05 · answer #7 · answered by Rhetta Yanez 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try putting your finger in her mouth while she suckles so she doesnt get a chance to bite down. After a while, she may understand not to bite.
2006-08-31 06:35:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
That's when I quit breast-feeding. It is nature's way of telling you it's time to wean. Your breasts are not there for teething,o.k.? My child bit down on me, and IT HURT. Even a good old mama cow will kick the ---- out of the calf when it does that. It's just time to wean, for that particular child. Or you can force nature to do it your way, and end up with sore, red, scaling t--ts!
2006-08-31 05:34:14 · answer #9 · answered by Scorpius59 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You try mixing bottle milk with your milk so later she will find just the same taste... be sure done clean
2006-08-31 05:25:27 · answer #10 · answered by desiree gersaniba 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋