ouchy! He bites!!!!

[snangel]

Ok so I ahve a 4 month old ebf baby boy. He has been "biting" me for a few weeks now. He clamps down real hard then rips his head back. I am getting really sore. I don't know how to get him to stop, and understand that it hurts. He is deaf, so i can't just yell ow, or anything like that. I give him plenty of toys and fingers to chew on, but he really likes to chew on his boobies! I love to nurse him, and nothing will make me stop, but if he would stop bitting I would be soooooooo much happier....any suggestions?

[BurgundyElephant]

Oh, the biting. For the love of all, stop the biting!!!

It's usually a phase, Mama. s: I think it's mean to yell ow, anyway, it usually startles them. Just gently put your finger in his mouth to break the suction, sign "no", and stop the feeding. If he still wants to nurse, and bites again, repeat. It's hard!

Are you deaf as well? Do you already know sign?

[snangel]

No I am not completly deaf, I have a moderate/severe hearing loss, and know alot of sign as my Dad is deaf. So the rest of my family will have to learn so we can talk with the little guy. (he is completly deaf) I am glad to hear it is just a stage, as it really hurts, and now I am scared of when he gets teeth. I will try what you suggested, hopefully he stops soon!!!!!!

[BurgundyElephant]

Have you seen the Signing Times videos? They really helped my kids learn some basic sign. I'm not a TV person but those are some of the only videos we watch.

[BurgundyElephant]

I just saw you're in Canada - the signing times videos are ASL, though. Do Canadians primarily use ASL?

[snangel]

LOL yes, i beleive that ASL is now the "normal" "universal" sign that most places use. Or at least most places with our alphabet...I'm sure if it was for english..ok maybe i'm not sure, but yes Canada does use ASL...lol...I will have to look into those videos. i also have 3 dvd's coming from deaf childrens foundation on sign. Do you know of any good books? For say my older kids, and DH?

[Danasmom]

Help is on the way

Hi!
Oh, please don't let him keep doing this! This is so bad for your poor nips and breast tissue. I have a solution! I am a veteran nurser of 3. I bfed my oldest for 2 1/2 years and am now nursing a 9 1/2 month old boy with 5 teeth and he hasn't biten me once!

Here is what you do. This works every time!
Use the clutch hold. If he is on your right breast use your left hand and hold onto the back of his/her head. At the first sign of clamping , take your left hand and press babies head into your breast. It may seem like cruelty but it's not. You won't hurt your child doing this. Hold your baby till you see that he/she is struggling for a breath (usually 5-6 seconds). Let go. Baby will pull back without the nip in mouth, drawing in a mouthful of air and thinking twice before biting mommy again. It only has to be done once, maybe twice. My two older daughters never bit me after I did this. I found it hard to not react the other way and pull the baby away which is what we would do instinctively because biting hurts!
Also, you may find that you are not drinking enough fluids. My son did something similar to what you are describing and it was because he wanted more milk than was in the breast! They do have growth spurts.
I hope this works for you
Carolyn
p.s. I would like to hear back how you made out!

[BurgundyElephant]

Carolyn - too funny you would describe that method - my DD LOVED to smash her face into my breast. It used to crack me up.

I would try and get the signing time videos from your library. There are 10, I believe. There are a lot of words in them and I think it gives a good foundation, enough to talk to any three year old, anyway. Most only need to be watched 1-2 times and people will have the signs memorized, but they are enjoyable to watch again and again. If you could only buy one I'd buy the alphabet one because it has so many signs in it.

I did read one other book for myself that was very helpful, but I can't remember what it was called and couldn't find it online. I do remember that it approaches learning sign language as an adult from a grammatical side instead of "here, memorize all these signs and you'll be fine". The language itself has a different syntax and the set-up of the sentences are different from spoken English. You probably know all this... but I didn't and it was helpful for me as a hearing adult to KNOW that things go in a different order. For example, if I were to speak "Did your Dad go to the store to buy milk?", I wouldn't sign Father +go +store +buy +milk. I would sign go +store +milk +Father with a questioning look on my face. It really helped to try and understand what people were saying too. Anyway, I remember the author was male and I think it was a college text. May have been "American Sign Language the easy way"?

[Selesai]

Just an idea, since I don't have experience dealing with deaf children

When he bites, stick your finger into his mouth to break his latch and, though he can't hear you, say NO.
I am thinking that even though he can't hear you, the look on your face when you tell him to stop will mean something to him, as will the fact that you've taken away the boob.
If this is a stupid idea, please ignore!

[snangel]

Nope there are no stupid ideas! I have tried that though, i also sign "no" to him. I have also tried putting him down, but the mommy in me said I shouldn't do that it was mean so it didn't last long...lol...Smashing his face, this I will try, I just hope it works, I really am getting sore. I am going to the LLL mtg tonight (i have never been, just found out about it) so I will ask there to. Thank you for your help, I really hope it works! Also I will look into those vidoes for my children though they know some basic sign for thier papa, it may be helpful for my dh and them. Also may incluse some baby type words, my kids pick it up fast, but dh is a little slower....not sure why because I sign and talk most things...but he just never thought he would have to learn caus ehe understands my spoken words.....hopefully it will help him, i know he is desperate to have a "verbal" relationship with his son!

[Danasmom]

I am glad to hear that you are trying the boob method! Make sure you do it long enough so that he gets the message. IF you don't do it long enough he will think it's just a game. The first time I tried it with my oldest she let go of my nipple real quick and got a little frantic because she wanted to breath. GL with your son. I'm sure you and your dh will pick up the sign language real fast and be communicating in no time.
Carolyn