I'm on the verge of weaning

[Lila]

I don't want to, but I am at my wit's end with my 11 month old and his biting. Every time he latches on he bites the carp out of my nipple with his sharp puppy teeth. He's not being playful or mean. He's just being lazy. His latch has gone to pot because he can't be bothered to open up. It's excruciating!
And then there's the wriggling. He twists and writhes and clamps down with his teeth so that he doesn't loose the nipple, and I'm in complete agony.
I had these lovely dreams of nursing him for two or three years, but I don't know if I can take it any more. Help me... please?
:

ETA: He also wants to nurse CONSTANTLY. He's quit trying to entertain himself. He wants to nurse when he's bored, when he is happy, ALL THE TIME. I don't know what could be the root of this, but I thought It might be significant.

[alegna]

The nursing all the time can be quite normal at that age.

For the biting- watch closely- try to figure out when he's going to bite. Try to unlatch him BEFORE he bites (many babies/toddlers bite when they're through nursing)

Talk to him about it. Explain it hurts. Praise him when he nurses without biting.

When he bites, pull him toward you to make him release

good luck!

-Angela

[haleyelianasmom]

DD gets a bad latch when she's teething. It passes every time. She also likes to nurse quite frequently when teething even now (she's 2). Nursing can be hard, just like parenting, but you'll be glad you stuck with it. And it sounds like he really needs it now. Hang in there! If your nipples need a break, give them a break. Maybe try some nipple cream for you, a massage for your son to distract him and comfort him for a while.

[Caittune]

We went through that too at pretty much the same age. It was all I could do not to wean as well. We stuck with it and followed the same advice that was given here unlatch before. Don't let him nurse with a bad latch.

Also I found that sleeping topless and letting my nipples "breathe" helped. We are only part time co sleepers though so it is safer for me to be topless when DD isn't in our bed.

[sugarlumpkin]

Oh my! I don't know what advice to give (you've gotten good advice from those who have BTDT already) but please, mama, don't wean. Please work through it if you can. I am so jealous of your problem! Sorry if my post is weird--I mean to encourage you by reminding you how lucky you are to nurse at all, even with the biting and painful nipples. I wish I were in your place.

[onlyboys]

Argh! That is super annoying! I had one son (who was born with his two bottom teeth) who did this. He never had a good latch, honestly, and it just got worse the more tired he got.

I agree with Angela--watch closely for the biting. He cannot bite you and nurse, though I remember well the biting to grab the nipple before it slips out of his mouth trick. When my son's latch would get lazy I would immediately unlatch him and start again. This meant that he never fully fell asleep on the breast, which was irritating.

Hope it gets better soon.

[Matadora]

I agree about not letting him nurse unless he latches properly. Think of it as a training type thing - you both have to work together to make it successful. Tell him to open when it comes time to nurse and don't let him do it until he opens wide. For me, when my oldest did that he would get frustrated and yell out in anger and when that mouth opened wide I would pop myself in and say open. Took maybe 2 days before he figured out the two (open, with opening the mouth wide).

I have found, over the years and 4 children, that if they have the nipple in there correctly they can't bite. It is truly when the latch is poor, they are going to sleep and pop it out and then try to suck it back in and clamp down, or they are playing and not really nursing. About the worse that might happen, if the latch is correctly, is you might have indentations where the teeth are resting on the breast, but it shouldn't be near the nipple.

I also agree that it is perfectly normal for an 11 month old to want to nurse all the time. You are his favorite thing right now and nursing is a fun way to connect with you. Try and engage him in other activities with you that might distract him a bit and give a larger space between nursing sessions - I found that letting your child know you can play and be together when it iisn't always nursing. Does that make sense?

HUGS!!

[garretsmommy]

Hugs mama

I don't have any better advice than what everyone has already offered- I just wanted to say hang in there if you can. There were several times that I was thinking of giving up Bfing due to issues such as yours- I'm so glad that we struggled through. I can now happily say that I BF my one year old Best wishes