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Parenting & Farm Kids:  Advice for nursing a biter?  |
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lovelady
True Blue Farmgirl
533 Posts
Toni
Indiana
USA
533 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 23 2007 : 1:21:58 PM
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Do any of you have advice on what to do to stop my son's biting while nursing? He has drawn blood twice today and I really don't want to stop nursing, but I don't want to lose a nipple, either.
He is almost 9 months and only has one tooth. He doesn't so much bite while nursing, but towards the end or if something else grabs his attention, he yanks off and scrapes my nipple between his upper gums and that lonely tooth.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! |
Edited by - lovelady on Oct 23 2007 1:23:27 PM |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Oct 23 2007 : 1:34:19 PM
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maybe find some place to nurse him so he doesnt get distracted. Remember that he is new with a tooth and isn't really aware of what it does yet. Once he gets use to having a tooth in the way of your nipple, then it should subside....until he gets to be two and ornery like my Zoe who likes to give me just a little nip when she has got an imp in her. Keep at it. It will get better. He will learn how to deal with the new obstacles in his mouth and it wont happen anymore. Hang in there!!!
~Tasha (resident extended nurser, LLL member and WIC breastfeeding mentor, doula, student midwife and nursing mother to a two year old. ;) )
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://womonandsprout.wordpress.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=GaiasRose
Homepage:
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
Edited by - GaiasRose on Oct 23 2007 1:34:43 PM |
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shawna
True Blue Farmgirl
241 Posts
missouri (north)
241 Posts |
Posted - Oct 23 2007 : 3:09:22 PM
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I've often wondered about this, lucky to not have had to deal with it!! my mother-in-law says that her body just went into auto. and without even thinking she swattted that little butt. and never got bit again! i'm still hoping to not have to go through this! good luck!
xoxo s.r. |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2007 : 1:03:25 PM
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I guess is hes getting distracted then he's not asleep. My mom always told her boys "don't Bite" Im sure they on;y did it a handful of times, but when I saw her tell them, it worked.
Cristine
Do what you can, with what you have, right where you are. - Roosevelt
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2007 : 4:37:01 PM
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I must admit I would do a flick of the finger on their pudgy little cheek and then take the breast away, with a "ouch, you hurt mommy". No more snacking for a while, and might I add, it was usually at the snacking point when the biting would occur. It only took 1 or 2 times and I didn't have another problem.
Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth! |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2007 : 5:22:10 PM
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I have to entirely disagree with Angie. Why would you inflict pain and take food away when he is merely learning that his mouth has teeth. That isn't fair or pleasant way to react to a 9 month old learning something new happening to his body. Just because he is distracted doesnt mean he is just snacking.
I find that to be one of the more terrible things one can do to a baby who is just getting teeth and doesn't know that they are hurting you when they clamp down or dont break suction completely before delatching. He doesnt know what hes doing, why inflict pain? it doesnt make sense to me.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://womonandsprout.wordpress.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=GaiasRose
Homepage:
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2007 : 08:35:37 AM
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Well I've done both -- my eldest bit me pretty hard and before I though I thumped her cheek right back and she never bit me again! The others never were really biters - my youngest I nursed til he was 3 and the few times he nipped me I took it away and said no that hurts Mommy! I think I may have flicked him once but not nearly as hard as the eldest - beleive me it wasn't even thought out cause she really chomped down!
It will pass once he figures out he can't bite and suck at the same time - or that mom will take it away when he's just playing!
Holly
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
http://timsarmywifey.blogspot.com
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4826 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2007 : 7:23:59 PM
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My youngest two sons were both quite the biters when they nursed. Just my luck, the little darlings got their first tooth at 3 months old! They had a mouth full by their first birthday. I stopped nursing them at 11 months. I did my best to try to unlatch them from my breast when I could tell they were finishing up. It didn't always work, but I would jump when they bit me & say that they really hurt mommy. They never quit biting completely, but it did improve. My youngest two sons are 18 years apart and the older ones pediatrician had told me to thump him on the back of the head when he would bite! I found out that was what native American women would do in the "old days". As tempting as that was, especially after a hard bite, I stuck with the scolding. Good luck & hopefully he'll quit doing this soon!
Dawn in IL |
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Sweet Harvest Homestead
True Blue Farmgirl
279 Posts
Lindy
Stanfield
NC
USA
279 Posts |
Posted - Oct 27 2007 : 04:35:55 AM
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Ouch!
Oh, I remember that feeling. My boys did not bite but my little girl....
I felt like I was going to throw up the first time she did it, it hurt so bad.
I did not do anything but yell in pain and try to get her to unlatch the first couple of times that she did it because like Tasha said, she probably did not know that what she did could hurt me but I think it became a game to her because she liked my reaction. After the 3rd time, I pulled her hair a bit. ( I felt horrible ) but the biting stopped.
Hope you get relief soon girl!
Lindy
www.sweetharvesthomestead.typepad.com |
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lovelady
True Blue Farmgirl
533 Posts
Toni
Indiana
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2007 : 12:13:12 PM
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Thanks for all the advice! He hasn't really done it in the last few days, so maybe he has figured it out.
I really need to remember to think like him sometimes like Tasha said. It makes sense.
Thanks so much!
Toni |
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babysmama
True Blue Farmgirl
931 Posts
Elizabeth
Iowa
931 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2007 : 8:24:15 PM
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Hopefully he hasn't bitten you since you first wrote. Just wanted to mention that most babies will bite once or twice because they aren't used to their teeth or the teething could cause pain and they clamp down. My daughter would clamp down and grind her teeth - not fun!!!! I would yell "Ow" and most times that would make her stop right away but if not pull them into your body really close - they will let go right away. They do learn not to bite so I wouldn't stop nursing after one or two bites!
-Elizabeth |
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lovelady
True Blue Farmgirl
533 Posts
Toni
Indiana
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - Nov 19 2007 : 07:30:59 AM
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He has gotten much better about not biting, although I am sure that once he gets an upper tooth he will probably do it again. I will just deal with it when it happens, though.
My cousin has a baby a couple months older than Wyatt and he bit her a couple times so she stopped nursing. Now after buying formula for the last 4 months, she is very regrettful of quitting nursing. I am very glad I stuck with it, I cannot imagine doing it any other way.
Thanks for all the advice and support, ladies!
Toni |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Nov 19 2007 : 8:20:22 PM
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Nora has started nipping me too. She knows the word "no" so I end up saying "no", and pulling away (more a reflex than a punishment) and I do lightly tap/slap her cheek just to get her attention. Those little teeth HURT!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
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Parenting & Farm Kids: Advice for nursing a biter? |
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Advice for nursing a biter?
