Ok my son and I have been doing pretty good with nursing for four months now but suddenly he's been pulling off my nipple until the very tip and sometimes he'll suck and sometimes he'll bite but now my nipples are so sore that I don't even know when he's doing anything. From the moment he latches on until he stops it hurts. I still nurse but I want him to stop biting so it doesn't hurt... They told me to tell him when he bites me to say "no, mommy isn't a bite toy" and offer him a real bite toy but now I don't know when he's biting... This happen to anyone? I don't want to wean him, any suggestions?
2006-10-06 17:19:12 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Work on your latch.
If you have a good latch, it's physically impossible for him to bite (and shouldn't hurt as much).
As he starts to pull off, pull his head in towards you. If that doesn't work, un-latch him (put your pinkie in the side of his mouth), and make him latch again... like you did that first day in the hospital. Tease him with the nipple until he opens wide!
And I still swear by the "No biting!" method: If you catch him starting to bite, say "No biting!" (CALMLY!), unlatch him, and END THE FEEDING. Do not let him back on for at least 5 minutes after he's stopped crying. (Yes, he'll cry at first. Distract him however you can.) Within 24 hours, they usually learn what "No biting!" means.
(They learn fast when milk is at stake! lol)
In the meantime, sounds like you've got some damaged nipples. You could even be contracting thrush from all the damage he's done. (A good lactation consultant can help you tell if that's the case. Contact La Leche League if you don't know of one. They'll be glad to help, free of charge.)
Get some good quality breast pads -- prefereably cotton. (If you're on WIC, you should be able to get some from your local office.) Wear them whenever you have your top on, and change them frequently. And -- this is the key -- spend as much time topless as you can, with nothing touching your nipples. A little olive oil or Lansinoh will help soothe them and speed the healing.
2006-10-06 18:50:33 · answer #1 · answered by Katherine Blackthorne 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that pushing the baby into the breast is better than pulling them off.
Screaming may or may not work... they MAY get the point and not do it again, or they may be to frightened to nurse at all because of the negative association (then you've got a 'nursing strike' on your hands and you'll have to deal with that too.)
I had the sore/cracked/bleeding nipples and it was all because of the latch. You can just use lanolin (PurLan ; Lansinoh etc.) but it's REALLY easy to get a yeast infection when you're like that. When the public health nurse saw me she said to call for a prescription for nipple cream right away. She said there were 2 types... a low grade one (you can use if you don't know if you've got a yeast infection yet) and Viaderm. I just requested the Viaderm immediately so I wouldn't have to eventually get 2 kinds if the first one didn't work. Viaderm was FANTASTIC and I felt better within about 24 hours.
I feel your pain!!! Whimpering in agony every time the baby latches on is no fun at all and it doesn't have to be like that.
Good luck! Feel better!!
2006-10-06 19:30:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like he may be teething. Telling him to stop isn't going to help much, he's way to young to understand that. The natural reaction when the baby bites is to pull away as it hurts. If you actually push your baby into your breast it will cause their noses to become plugged for a second and they will let go. Once you practice it a little, you will automatically push your baby into you instead of away. I would encourage you also to percivere. This phase will pass and it's so good for your baby if you keep going. You can purchase Lanoline from the drug store to help sore nipples. Just apply inbetween feedings, it does wonders. You could also consider buying a nipple shield. I've never used one, but I hear they help. God Bless and keep up the good work.
2006-10-06 17:24:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I asked the same question. I tried when the baby bites you, you stop, say no firmly and take it away. After a few minutes have gone by offer. If he continues, take it away again. He will soon get the message. He will not understand mommy is not a biting toy. My daughter occainionally bites. I stop and offer it to her later.
2006-10-06 17:44:29 · answer #4 · answered by toricp3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe try not to totally wean him but maybe he needs something more than milk now. Talk to your Health Visitor but if you try him on a bit of baby rice he will realise that he's only gonna get milk from you and the biting thing will stop. I think it's worth a try. I didn't want to wean mine at 4 months but the fact is that he may really need a bit more. Check but this might work.
2006-10-07 01:33:17 · answer #5 · answered by aza 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is he actually teething and biting you? My son went through this where he would pull REALLY hard while nursing, but he didn't have teeth yet. Then he stopped for a couple of months and then he started teething and actually clamping his teeth down.(VERY PAINFUL!) You are supposed to gently withdraw your nipple when he does any of this so he learns that the milk goes away when he does this.I know it hurts, but try to hang in there.If you see that's he's just sucking like a pacifier and not swallowing, take a break and give it to him again.
2006-10-06 17:25:14 · answer #6 · answered by becka55 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of my babies went through that stage too. I know this sounds mean but it worked. When they would bite down I screamed really loud, and took the breast away. The scream scared them so bad they didn't do it again. Oh and when you detach the nipple from their mouth don't just pull it out that will hurt you worse. Instead use your finger to get him to loosen his grip.
2006-10-06 17:31:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the only suggestion I have is to immediately detach him when he bites and say no! They get the picture pretty quickly, but if you can't even feel when he bites then I don't know if you can.
2006-10-06 17:25:19 · answer #8 · answered by Sonia Jo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that is your first try at discipline. Let him know lovingly and quickly! not to bite. Then offer your breast again. He'll catch on. He'd rather have it than not, just that he's playful. But you can direct playtime where it doesn't cause harm to you. You'll be amazed at how smart he is and how quickly he catches on to what you mean. But don't slip and sometimes allow it. Be consistent.
2006-10-06 17:24:23 · answer #9 · answered by Orquidea 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when he bites u take away the breast maybe hes not hungry and just wants to play. my daughter does the same thing too so i just take my breast away and wait 4 a while when she's really hungry doesn't even have time to bite my niple
2006-10-06 22:12:41 · answer #10 · answered by wakeupyoursoulnessense 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋