Pinchingbitingscratchingkicking...

[Organicavocado]

My 5mo won't stay still. He pinches and scratches so hard I have scabs and my breasts are so sore.. as are my nipples from the biting and twisting! He doesn't want to pinch my clothes or fidget with a nursing necklace, he only wants to pinch and scratch the thinnest skin I have (he will do this with the inside of my elbows too!) and it's driving me mad. He will grab my areola (I am the queen of areola so there's plenty left even with him latched) and DRAG my nipple out from between his clenched gums over and over and over. I have even started yelling out in pain and anger and frustration and I have come to dread nursing. Last night it was so bad that I had to wake H up at 2am to take the baby while I took a bath to relax and took a tylenol for my headache, too.

Socks on his hands? Doesn't help.

Holding his hands? Won't let me. Screams and punches.

He is such a mellow baby and I know he's teething but he has been teething for a long while now and this is only a three day old issue. Suggestions?

[SeekingJoy]

I swaddle DD. She isn't really a fan, but I figure nursing has to work for both of us.

[kimbersdawnly]

For the teething have you tried an amber teething necklace?

My little one can be cruel too (when I say cruel I mean it - she used to bite me hard, listen to me scream in pain, then smile, giggle, and bite again) and has gone through all kinds of awful nursing behaviors and fazes that were never a problem with my first baby. Just be firm, be consistent, be sincere and tell him it hurts mommy. Don't hesitate to stop a hurtful behavior, and don't be afraid to end a nursing session if you have to. Try to get through it and remember that this, like every other faze, WILL PASS.

Other possibilities to preserve your sanity... Have you tried using a new position as a distraction? Mine liked to start trying to nurse sitting up at that age. Or is there something like a toy or one of mommy's things that he might be fascinated by if you only gave it to him while nursing?

Best of luck!