I think she can't stop using her teeth

[Letitia]

DD is 3, and nursing only about twice a day, but we were both happy with this until the past few weeks. She has begun clamping down with her teeth the longer she's latched. It's not a sudden bite. It starts OK, then I'll notice a little pain, and usually wonder for a moment if it's happening again, then it gets sharper and I'm sure. It really hurts. She's given me tooth-shaped bruises and some mild breaks in the skin. At first it was only on one side in one position, but now it's both sides in any position. I really don't think she's aware of it while she's doing it. It seems like I'm always asking her to stop or switch sides now, and she just seems confused and sad even though I'm really, really trying to do it gently.

How could latch problems start at age 3? I really don't know what to do about this. I hadn't been wanting to wean her completely. Today I asked her to suck on my finger and sure enough the teeth clamped down, but when I tried to show her what she was doing she didn't understand it. What I mean is that although I think she understood the words, I don't think she had an understanding of how she needed to move her body. Like when you're teaching a toddler how put on clothes.

Any advice? I'm really sad, don't want our nursing relationship to end this way.

[Katie T]

I don't have any great advise it could just me a phase, but I do know some kids just start to forget how to latch correctly, I'm not sure if it happens as "young" as that though.

I would just keep trying to get her to understand what you are trying to explain to her and hopefully you two can resolve it. I would be sad if my nursing relationship ended that way as well.

I hope things get better for you.

[crystalball00]

I saw another post that mentioned the possibility of milk drying up? I know nothing about this but am in the same boat- almost 3yo and nursing hurts everytime- I tell her nice mamma milk, no bite, use big mouth and she seems sad and confused. I definitely don't want to end our nursing relationship on this note.

[echoecho1528]

Originally Posted by crystalball00

I saw another post that mentioned the possibility of milk drying up? I know nothing about this but am in the same boat- almost 3yo and nursing hurts everytime- I tell her nice mamma milk, no bite, use big mouth and she seems sad and confused. I definitely don't want to end our nursing relationship on this note.

I'm in the same boat, and I feel absolutely horrible about the situation. My Dd is so tense about nursing before bed and that makes it so much worse. She can't figure out what I am asking her to do (she's just 26 mo). We are both so stressed and she is acting angry and sad throughout the day. I'm not sure what to do. I have worked hard at securing our attachment primarily through bfing and I'm scared that such an emotionally negative ending to nursing will sabotage our relationship.