Biting... help!

[Queermama]

My seven month old started biting.  He has had bottom teeth since 3mo and his two top front came in last month.  He started biting this week.  A lacation consultant suggested I wait 20 minutes if he bites, but sometimes I need to get out the door to work OR he is overtired and needs to sleep and I don't have 20 minutes to wait.  I've been saying "gentle gentle" when he latches, but it doesn't always work.  help!!

[P.J.]

I was coming here to ask the same thing, I hope somebody replies.
My son is 8 months, and has four teeth. He bites mostly when he's falling asleep (I nurse him to sleep every time). I always scream out in pain. I know you're supposed to push their face into the breast so they can't breathe and pull off on their own, but who can remember to do that when in such pain? When I yell out, he gets really upset. I feel terribly about it, but it's a reflex reaction I can't seem to help. If you don't mind my jumping in here, I am very curious how other mamas deal with this without yelling out in pain every time it happens?! Thanks!

[Queermama]

PJ - I think I have found our problem.  My DS was getting another tooth (number 5) on the bottom and I think he was biting for relief as the biting has seemed to lessen now that the tooth has come through.  I was reading that if they bite towards the end of the feeding, (sometimes when they fall asleep and the nipple starts to fall out of their mouth and they will bite to keep it in) that you can either have a finger at the edge of their mouth to quickly unlatch before they chomp down or you just watch closely and learn their cues to see when they are done nursing and to unlatch before the bite comes.  Also, I have had my own "ouch" come out rather loudly at times.  I have read that sometimes this can cause a nursing strike.  I too have tried to press my DS's face into my breast, but that didn't work as much as unlatching him with my finger. 

I hope others chime in.

best.

[PatioGardener]

I just went through this with my DS - from about 8.5-9 months (his 2 bottom teeth came in at 7.5 months.)

What helped us:

1) smushing his face into my breast when he nipped me, and I tell you - it takes real work to do this when all you really want to do is yelp and rip the baby off the breast! But he hates being smushed and would stop biting that day afterward.

2) saying no, biting hurts - or whatever you feel is appropriate- and takinghim off the breast for 1-2 min after he bit

3) paying strict attention to when he was nearing a feed and getting him off as soon as he was done - no playing at the breast!

4) watching him closely and taking him off if he ever got that 'nippy' look in his eye

5) repeating to myself "this is a phase and it will not last forever"  This helped a lot. I even posted on MDC about the biting. http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1290937/i-ve-got-a-biter

[Queermama]

Patio Gardner,

thanks thanks for your post!  it's helpful to know it last a short time.  My DS isn't biting as hard or as often as he was, but it is still happening.  I think I will try giving him the Nylands Teething Gel before a feeding to see if that helps too.

best