[Acugirl]

My ds is almost one. He has nursed to sleep every single nap and bedtime since he was born. It is the only way he will fall asleep. I am fine with that. normally it takes all of 5 minutes and he is out.
But, lately, he has taken to biting me instead of nursing. He bites, i say no, put him down and and he crawls away to play. Then i try again later. yesterday, that went on for 4 hrs! Today, he bit me and i took him up and put him in his pack and play and sat next to him for about 30 seconds while he screamed. Then i nursed him and he fell right to sleep-it was like a reset.

He naps twice a day and really needs those two naps still. He goes to bed at 7 and nurses all night-we cosleep.

Anyway, I have a 4.5 yr old dd too so the nursing to sleep works-it is usually quick and easy-but this biting is killing me and making me really scared to nurse him.

Any ideas?

 

[CathMac]

Acugirl,
As far as I'm concerned, you seem to be on the right track. The only way to discourage biting is to firmly say no and stop nursing. He'll get the point eventually.

The only thing that might need fine tuning is how long to wait before offering again and how many times to offer if he keeps biting. Those are judgment calls that probably depend upon a variety of factors.

Of course the important thing is being consistent.

I think some babies do this to stimulate let down. You might want to keep track of the last side and try harder to remember to offer the full side if that's a possible issue. You could also try using the Marmet massage technique to get things moving.

Along these same lines, for non-bedtime nursing you might want to be reasonably certain that he is hungry first. Otherwise, I'm guessing, he may have to work harder, and biting may be a short cut.

HTH, ~Cath

 

[DklovesMkandJK]

I agree with the PP.
J did that for a while and I found that he seemed to only bite when
A) He was not hungry and I had initiated the session
or
B) He was having teething pain

As the PP suggested I would make sure he was really hungry (and pain free

) and just continue telling him no and ending the session.

When J did that it felt like forever but I think it was only about 2 weeks until he totally stopped.

GL!

Dena
Mama to Jack
5.17.06

 

[Acugirl]

Thanks!
I think you are both right. I have made the correlation bet biting and teething pain and I try to give him hylands before nursing-but maybe I am not leaving enough time for them to start working.
Also, when he has to poop, he will bite.
My dd never bit me in 2.5 yrs of nursing, so this is so new to me.
Thanks!

 

[L'lyn'sDad]

Our 1 yr old is doing the same thing. It has gotten so bad that my wife is afraid to nurse her. On 18 June she bite so hard that she drew blood.

My wife has decided that it is time to wean. I wonder if there is another route so I will share these comments with her.