Please help - 11 month old is biting and I'm so scared forgot how to nurse

[Cartesia]

My LO is almost 11 months. For the past week he has been biting me almost every time we nurse during the day. At night it hasn't been as much.

He has gone through biting phases in the past & I got advice from La Leche League that helped but right now nothing seems to stop him. I have tried ending the nursing right away with very firm "No Biting", putting him on the floor etc. which definitely upset him. I have tried more gentle tactics, telling him "No Biting" and taking him off my nipple but keeping him in my lap. I have tried pulling him in very close to keep his chin slightly up so he can't bite as easily (LLL trick). Since nothing has worked, I continue to offer to nurse after he bites the first 1-3 times but once he starts biting he just keeps doing it. He looks at me almost as though he is puzzled when he bites and he is definitely upset when I take him off my breast, but then if I put him back he bites IMMEDIATELY, while looking into my eyes, so I know he knows he is doing it.

He bites right away, sometimes before a let down and sometimes right as it starts or sometimes he'll nurse for a minute and then bite. I'm pretty sure my supply is good & flow is fast as usual. He has always been fine with a fast flow so I don't think that's the issue.

He's been chowing down on the solids - that's not new, though, he has loved eating from day one.

For the past 4 days he has barely nursed during the day.

I am so scared that either he is trying to wean or that we will end up weaning or that he will "forget" how to nurse....

HELP PLEASE!!!!!!

[Cavy]

DS went on a nursing strike after a similar sort of biting phase, that was bad, I became very engorged! We did sort it out in the end.

Don't worry, he won't forget that easily, you have some room and time to maneuver.

I think it's better to have definite gaps each time after he tries to nurse but bites instead, perhaps making him wait an hour. So soon as he bites, he has to wait an hour before you offer again (in fact, might wait until he obviously wants to nurse, rather than you offering just because you think he might want to nurser).

Not that I'm an expert, but at least by replying this may get back to top of New Posts pages.

[LadyCatherine185]

My DS bites when he is getting teeth, and when he has a tummy ache. Try having something else on hand that he can bite instead, and maybe try some motrin or teething tablets for teething pain. hope you get through this soon mama!

[Honey693]

I'm really interested to hear what people say. DD bites all the time too. I've tried everything from screaming no and putting her down to ignoring it. Nothing works. I hope someone has something I haven't tried yet.