DD is using my nipple as a teether

[Punchy Kaby]

10 month old DD is teething and she is biting my nipples all the time. Not hard enough to break the skin, but hard enough to hurt. She asks for nursing by digging in my shirt and as soon as she gets the nipple in her mouth she bites down and pulls the nipple. I don't know what to do to get her to stop. I say 'owe, that hurts mama.' but she usually grins or grabs for my nipple with her hand and squeezes. What do I do? By the end of the day I do not want to offer her my breast because I am afraid she will bite me.

[Llyra]

What I did for biting (DD2 was a big one for that, and at that same age)-- as soon as baby bites, I say calmly, "ow, that hurts," and then I immediately unlatch, and put baby down. I don't offer again for a few minutes to a half hour. If baby cries, I try an alternate method of soothing before offering again. I offer something else to bite on, for example, or solid food, or some other distraction.

I think even young babies are able to connect cause and effect enough to realize that if they're really hungry, they need to stop the biting. And if they're not really hungry, then there's no harm in trying something else to help with the teething, and saving the breast for when baby really wants to nurse.

It's a classic age to start introducing some simple nursing manners-- no biting, no twiddling, no hard squeezing, etc. If something's painful and uncomfortable to you, it's harmful ultimately to the nursing relationship if you allow it, and then feel like you're avoiding nursing because of the pain or discomfort.

I think that if we make too much of a fuss about it, though, and say ow a lot WITHOUT ending the session, then we run the risk of baby thinking it's all a game, and continuing the behavior for the "funny" reaction she gets. That's why I combined a firm but calm "ow" with unlatching.

[Sarah]

Over the years- I've seen many times that a baby starts using a sippy cup at about the same time they are getting teeth- and suddenly mom is getting bitten or teeth marks when she nurses. They assume it's the teeth- when it's actually the hard spout of the sippy that taught their baby a new habit. Most of the time- if this was the root of the problem- removing the no-spill stopper in the sippy allows the baby to use it with a soft mouth. I don't know if that's what's goig on with you two, but i thought I'd toss it out there.

[Xavismom]

DS is biting me too, but he is not yet 4 months old. I dont feel like I can unlatch him and take away his nursing for a time period, because he is so little, and BM is the only nourishment he gets.

I've yelped, but he just thinks its funny. I tried pressing his face into my breast, and he also thinks thats funny. So I dont know what to do either.

I have noticed that he does it a lot more to my left breast than my right one though. Its so sore somedays.

And this might be a super dumb question..... and I'm kind of embarassed to even ask it.. but it HAS passed through my mind. Right now we are still waiting for the tooth to break through... what happens when he has all his front teeth, and he bites down really hard? Is it possible for a baby to bite hard enough to actually bite your nipple off?? I do remember reading somewhere the human mouth is strong enough to bite off a finger in one bite.. and I know the masseter is one of the strongest muscles in the body.. I admit I am kind of fearfull.

[Llyra]

With a very young baby, I'd unlatch for a very short time--- maybe thirty seconds. Long enough to set baby down for a second. I think if you tolerate lousy latch habits, they just get worse. Any time baby is causing pain, I would unlatch and relatch. Even with a newborn.

But consider, too, that especially in the early months, sometimes the biting/yanking is related to letdown and supply. My kids at the four month age were big on clamping down and yanking whenever the flow wasn't coming fast enough to suit them. They'd do it at the start of a feed, if the letdown was slower than they wanted. They'd also do it late in a feed when the flow slowed down (and often enough, the clamping and yanking would elicit another letdown, which of course only rewarded them for the habit ). In cases where baby is biting for this reason, switching sides can help a lot, even if you've already used the other side. Often, switching sides will cause another letdown of milk, and it's a supply-increasing technique that's useful when baby is impatient for more milk.

As far as baby biting hard enough to cause damage-- I'm sure theoretically it's possible, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. If baby does bite HARD, you can get baby to release her hold by reaching into baby's mouth with a hooked finger, or if all else fails, holding her nose shut. I've been bitten very hard a few times, and I was sore for a day or so afterwards, but no damage was ever caused.

[candelaria80]

What do you do if the baby bites at the end of a session? My DD has her two bottom teeth and now will sometimes bite when she has finished? Will putting her down at that point help? I have tried saying "ow that hurts mommy", and I have tried being very stern and say "NO", she seems to be amused by both.
My cousin would lightly flick her DD's cheek, but that doesn't feel like the right thing to do (and even if it were I couldn't bring myself to do it). Any other options?
Sorry about tagging on OP.

[Beauchamp]

[maptome]

Just wanted to say that my babe does this when teething, but its rather temporary. I haven't figured out how to stop her (8 months now). I just wait it out and hope she leaves some nipple for the next baby. The biting usually only lasts about a week.

[Llyra]

At the end of a feed, if baby bit, I'd try switching sides-- in case slow flow was the reason for the biting. If the biting persisted, I'd end the session, and try again later.