Biter

[MammaG]

I don't think I've ever posted in BF before...I ought to be an 'old pro'.

I'm on baby #3; BITER #1.

My LO is nearly 10 mos and now has three teeth and he nips me. And it's a game that is apparently absolutely hilarious. How do I stop it?

It usually happens towards the end of a nursing session or if he's cluster-nursed a lot recently. He bites the nipple, and when I have happened to be watching him just before, he's totally checking me out and anticipating a reaction. My reaction the first few times was a loud-ish 'OUCH!', which startled him and made him cry (although this may have been that I popped him off pretty darn quickly). That was months ago. Now, I jump because it HURTS, and pop him off with a stern 'No. No biting.' I try not to put him back on until he's been distracted to a point where I feel that he's forgotten the biting.

When I say "NO!" and pop him off, he wriggles, giggles and is obviously very pleased with the results. I'm pretty sure he's anticipating it when he bites me...I think I'm sometimes averting a bite when I see a look in his eye.

Dh didn't believe me about the laughing until he saw it in action last night and then HE couldn't stop laughing. Grrrr.

I've put him down right away a couple of times and moved away, sometimes into the next room, but that makes him cry and I don't want him to feel that he'll be abandoned if he makes a mistake, you know?

I'd like to try to pull him into my breast and startle him that way, but I cannot seem to do it in the moment...it's hurting too much and I instinctively pull away.

It's beginning to affect our nursing relationship. I'm afraid to nurse him and I feel that I'm ending sessions before he gets adequate hind-milk because I'm trying to avoid a bite. This is so frustrating. Three boys. 6 years of nursing and now I'm stumped.

Can anyone help me out? Thanks.

[MammaG]

Anyone? I've read other threads about biting. In the last three days, I've been pulling him into my breast, but this doesn't seem to work.

It's getting worse. He bites nearly every nursing session, and I'm cutting back on nursing him. I think I'm also not letting down because I'm so nervous, which I think is making him bite more.

He's now got a cold. He's snotty and whiny. He's puked twice this afternoon. He needs to be nursing and I can't do it. I seriously think this may just be it for us. He's only 10 months old...I nursed his brothers for 4 years and 3 years....I didn't ever envision it ending like this.

I do have a call in to my LLL Leader. Hope she gets back to me soon.

Please....just a 'hang in there', maybe? I don't know what to do and I feel like an idiot.

[mamaw/two]

I have two biters and two non-biters. I totally feel your pain! With my two that were biters, they both thought it was funny and would bite at the end of the nursing session- just like you are describing. My first biter did it for 8 monthes before stopping, 6 monthes to 14 monthes. She went on to nurse until 3 yrs 9 monthes old. My second bit for 6 monthes, 7 monthes to 13 monthes. He nursed until 3 yrs 1 month. So the advice I give you may not be the greatest, seeing how it took me a long time to get them to quit! It started with both of them at an age where they were getting mobile and needed more interaction. I think some of their nursing sessions were out of boredom more than hunger. It got to the point where I would see the look in their eyes and latch them off, I would not nurse them after that for an hour or two, instead we would play with toys, read books, get a snack or drink, or do something else engaging. I believe they wanted some one on one time but the only way they knew how to ask was to ask for milkie, I was also in a pattern of just nursing them at the slightest cry. I got it down to avoiding about 95% of the bites. Sometimes, they would start to bite down while falling asleep, that was when their latch was getting lazy and pulling them into the breast did help deepen the latch and worked great. I hope you are able to find something that works for you so that you can continue your nursing relationship with your son.

[mamaw/two]

I read your second post and wanted to add that my little biters did not bite when they were really in need of nursing, like when hungry, sick, or hurt. Hope he feels better soon.

[MammaG]

Thanks for your responses, Mamaw/two.

I think I'm learning better to see 'the look' and pop him off. I do worry a bit about him getting enough hind milk...he's little and I don't want him getting any smaller by age!

He doesn't bite at night, which is a mixed blessing. I know he's nursing enough then, but he nurses about every 90 minutes. I'm tired, but at least it's peaceful nursing at night.

I can't figure out why the pulling-in trick isn't working. I have large breasts and I know his nose is covered, but he seems completely undisturbed by this! He'll eventually let go, but he'll do it with a grin and a parting nip, the little stinker.

I'm trying to relax about it all, assuming that if he gets no reaction, maybe biting will hold less appeal? But, man, it hurts!