He is leaving TEETH MARKS - Ouch!

[Homebirth_Mom216]

My little one is not so little anymore - 7 months! Well he got four teeth this month and we're starting to have issues. I have never had problems with sore nipples, even from the get go, but now it is super painful almost every time he nurses. It is not that he is biting me, but he has his teeth dug in while he is nursing. I literally have to switch sides after a few minutes because it hurts so bad and I have clearly defined, deep teeth marks! Does this happen to anyone else?? How do you deal??

To add insult to injury (small rant here, skip if not interested) I got super sick yesterday and had a fever all night - couldn't sleep. Normally nursing DS helps to put me to sleep, but now it just wakes me up more because it hurts so bad. Needless to say I hardly slept last night. I don't think the sickness has anything to do with the teeth marks because this has been a growing issue for the past couple of weeks.

[Homebirth_Mom216]

This has not happened to anyone?

[birdie22]

Oh yeah... it happened to me!

I think you need to insist on a really wide latch. It's pretty common for babies to bite when new teeth are coming in (gnawing, I like to call it), and it sounds like your lo's gotten kinda lazy about opening up. Just unlatch and start over, again and again until latches properly. He'll probably take to it pretty easily, since the milk will come out better.

If not, maybe he's already feeling more teeth coming in--you could unlatch him after he's done eating, and offer a wet washcloth for the gnawing.

Good luck!

[crazylady]

My little guy only has his bottom teeth but he has started to bite!!!! I was here looking for answers too!

GOOD LUCK!!!!

[pollyanna123]

I agree with the pp- it sounds like you need to work on his latch. You can open your mouth and stick out your tongue so he'll mimic you. You can also gently pull down on his chin as he starts to latch on. Like the pp said, it may take a lot of latching and re-latching and making sure he has a nice wide latch.

[MovingMomma]

I agree: this is usually a latch issue. It can also be related to positioning. If babe is "hanging" on your nipple it can exacerbate the issue.

[Homebirth_Mom216]

Yup - of course, the ever important latch! Since we seemed to be getting along fine for the past six months I guess I just didn't really think about it anymore but it came back to haunt me haha.

I think you need to insist on a really wide latch. It's pretty common for babies to bite when new teeth are coming in (gnawing, I like to call it), and it sounds like your lo's gotten kinda lazy about opening up. Just unlatch and start over, again and again until latches properly. He'll probably take to it pretty easily, since the milk will come out better.

This was RIGHT ON THE MONEY. I need to insist on a wide latch - yes. Lazy about opening up - yes again. Take to it easily because of a better milk flow - and yes again. Thanks! This is also a double bonus because our nursing sessions seem to go a lot better now (even though I thought it was fine before) because babe is getting the milk a lot easier. Yay!:

[MadiMamacita]

i'm glad to hear this because i have been thinking alot about this upcoming issue.. no teeth yet but i'm scared to death! glad to hear its fixable.

[Homebirth_Mom216]

Yeah, this clamping issue is definitely fixable. I have gotten bit a number of times already, too, but I read that you can push them into you and it forces their mouth to open up. Otherwise I pull him off immediately and firmly say "no". He seems to get it because then he is really careful after that but forgets it a couple of days later . Gotta love 'em

[twins+1]

I'm so glad to hear of this now before teeth occur! My first two didn't get teeth until 11 months, so I'm hoping our new baby is the same. lol