My 5 month old daughter, who is exclusivly breastfed, just got in her first tooth. All day she has been biting me, I tell her no very sharply and take her off the breast for a half hour before letting her finish eating. She won't take a bottle, tried everything under the sun so that's out of the question, so how long do I have to go through this? I thought they were supposed to quit biting once they realized they don't get to eat if they chew????? Any other helpful suggestions for me to try? Quick! My little pirahna is hungry again.
2006-11-20 14:22:05 · 13 answers · asked by dolly 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Did you not read my question you silly girl? I tried to give her bottles, I have done everything from different nipples, to breastmilk, letting her cry it out for FIVE HOURS, nothing works.
2006-11-20 14:26:32 · update #1
Boy, another rude answer. Does anyone not know that breastfeeding is recommended for the first year of a baby's life? It's a hell of a lot better than formula.
2006-11-20 14:27:51 · update #2
Thankyou liandrew and buttercup for the helpful polite answers.
2006-11-20 14:30:36 · update #3
The lactation consultant recommended 30 min before offering the breast again after biting because even at 5 months they are able to remember for that long.
2006-11-20 14:36:28 · update #4
My son did this as well. The only thing you can do is the loud sudden scream when she bites. I don't recommend keeping her off the breasts for that long. Infants do NOT have long term memory. Short term memory only lasts for a few minutes in adults, and way less in infants (taking a pysc class). Do not yell at her. Just a loud sudden scream of pain and she will start to put two and two together in a few days. It sounds you are determined to keep breastfeeding her GOOD JOB. But you seem to have lost patience with her.
Teeth are a new thing for her. She doesnt know what they are and that it hurts when she bites you. This does not mean bite her like some wackos would say. Be patient with her and continue the loud, sudden screams and you will both be fine.
2006-11-20 19:33:40 · answer #1 · answered by Summer H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If she bites, say "no" firmly and put her down. Try not to yell or have a big reaction as sometimes they think that's a game.
If she clamps down, pull her IN to your breast and she'll have to let go to breathe.
If she has injurred you, keep some Lansinoh on it so it will heal quicker.
Pay attention to when it is happening. Is there a pattern? Does she usually bite at the beginning of a feeding? At the end? When she is falling asleep? If you can recognize a pattern, you can prevent the bites.
If she normally bites at the start, it's probably due to teething pain. Offer something cold to chew on before nursing or some Hyland's Teething Tablets.
If she is awake and biting at the end of a feeding, then she is playing around with you. Pay attention to her pattern and take her off when she stops nursing seriously.
If she is falling asleep and biting, then it's that her head isn't well supported. She is getting a sensation of falling and clamping down on you to "catch" herself.
Keep your hand close by to break the suction so you can try to avoid it.
She'll catch on soon. :-) Check the link below for TONS of good info.
2006-11-21 00:00:45 · answer #2 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm glad you're sticking it out and doing what you can to maintain breast feeding. Good for you. The only thing I can suggest is I got a nipple shield by Medela at babies r us. It's a little silicone nipple. She won't like it at first but she will eventually get hungry enough to take what she can get. Try putting something (just a bit) sweet on the nipple the first few times so she will come to it easily. Good luck and keep up with that nipple cream. :) Lansinal worked wonders for me when my daughter's little tooth would scrape my breast.
2006-11-20 19:13:27 · answer #3 · answered by momofthreemiracles 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My daughter bit my nipple almost off. But she never bit me again. I simply took her off the breast and very softly patted her diapered bottom saying no, sternly. Then, even though she was hungry, i made her wait a couple of minutes before continuing nursing. This also worked with my son, though it took a few more times before he caught on. Good luck and it will be okay, don't give up. I nursed both my kids over a year. My daughter was one and my son was 14 months. They are great and it was a wonderful experience.
2006-11-20 14:28:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Oh you poor thing.
I know exactly how you feel. My first daughter was born with a tooth believe it or not and breastfeeding really hurt! BUT i had no choice as she refused to take a bottle.
A gay midwife that I was lucky enough to have gave me the PERFECT solution. It's called a "nipple shield". Its made from silicone and looks just like your nipple. You put it over your nipple before feeding and the baby attaches to this. You will still feel her tooth but no where near as bad!
I also used bepanthen cream on my sore nipples and because of the GREAT nipple shield i didnt have to worry about my daughter sucking on the bepanthen.
Your local chemist should be able to help you get this item if they dont have any ask them if they can order you a few in.
2006-11-20 14:54:25 · answer #5 · answered by kellz_car 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
maybe the problem lies in punishing her for 30 min. a five month old doesn't realize that because she bit u, she couldn't eat for 30min. too much time passed in between the incident and she forgot that u took away the breasts after u bit her. u see where i am going with this. u need to take the breasts away from her for only 2-3 minutes.
be happy! u provided your daughter with her naurishment for five months and its because of your breastmilk, that she is healthy and got her first tooth.
2006-11-20 14:33:12 · answer #6 · answered by Miki 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
FYI, to go along with another answer given, you can buy nipple shields almost anywhere like Target, Babies R Us, or probably Walmart too. They have different sizes, so if the one you buy doesn't fit, look for a different size, don't give up. I think this will help. It also helps mothers who have a hard time breastfeeding from the get-go.
2006-11-20 17:12:12 · answer #7 · answered by LIl One 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ok.. babys normally only bite when they are bored. They are just experimenting.. and sometimes get a kick out of yuor response! You can try pulling her face into your chest, cutting off her air supply.. she will let go & stop the session then and there. A firm "NO" sometimes work, or thump her on the cheek..
to ease your pain cut a bandaid up & Put the adhesive part over the sore area of your chest... she won't really notice it & you can nurse w/ less pain until this phase is over.
Lucklly it is short lived.
Kellymom.com has this article that is VERY helpful too:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/biting.html (full article here its got too much good info to copy over)
2006-11-20 14:38:07 · answer #8 · answered by Lady in Pink 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A few days of taking it away after she bites will probably do the trick. Whatever anyone says, you don't need to stop breast feeding...
2006-11-20 14:27:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Its gonna hurt for a while till your nipples get used to it. They have soothing pads you can buy at rite aid, they are great but they help.
2006-11-20 14:34:04 · answer #10 · answered by xxlilsouljahxx 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋