Please help, my six month old bay has one bottom tooth and is biting me really hard while i nurse him.?

Question

how can i make him stop? i don't want to wean him yet, but i'm tense every time i nurse him because i'm always afraid he'll bite me again. and i think he feels that. i don't want to get him stressed out too, but i'm in a lot of pain when i nurse him.

Answer 1

He is probably not doing it on purpose like everyone else seems to assume.  He has one tooth.  He is simply lopsided.  When that other tooth comes in his "grip" will be more even again and you will be more comfortable.  But until that other tooth comes in, we need to get you more comfortable.  Apply Lansinoh nursing cream before and after every nursing session.  Just a little dab.  It will make you a little more comfortable.  Also, switch up your nursing positions.  If you usually use a cradle hold, try a football hold  or try sitting him up on your lap facing you to nurse or any other position.  This won't stop the pressure from the tooth, just prevent repeated pressure on your sore spots and allow them to heal.  Babies do not use their teeth to nurse.  I nursed my 3 year old who had a full mouth of teeth and had no problem. Make sure his latch it good.  An actively nursing baby holds the nipple between the upper lip and tongue, not lower teeth. If nothing else, this is a problem your baby will definately out grow.  Keep up the good work!

Answer 2

Oh my...I went through this as well and my baby had 2 teeth at that time.  I called my pediatrician and she said a few things:

1)  Make sure that you latch fully (babies at this age...they like to pull onto the nipple).

2)  It is okay to say NO...in a comfortable way.  My baby would feed and then towards the end he would "play"...that hurt.  So I looked at him and said NO and then pulled out.  He was laughing but he learned.

3)  In the meantime, use lansinoh ointment.  My son is 10 months and oh my god..the last week I was crying but then I put the cream on continuously and has been healing great.

If yo feel that it is time to wean...do so but if there is anything that you could do to make yourself more comfortable, that would be best after feeding this long.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

you can't avoid it.try putting your finger near his mouth and when he tries biting put the finger in his mouth this way he wont bite you.

Answer 4

I used to press hard while running my thumbnail along the bottom of the little one's foot - that stopped the biting pretty quick.

Answer 5

Pull him off as soon as he does it and tell him (with a mean face) "no biting Mommy." Yes, he'll probably cry a bit because of your tone of voice, but he'll get over it as soon as you put him back on the boob.

Answer 6

My daughter did this to me and I had a great bit of advice from my health visitor.She said every time she does it squash her face into the breast, as it will shock her into stopping. It did...eventually! First of all she thought it was a game and she'd just laugh at me, but I'd hold her there a millisecond longer than the last time and she soon got the message.

Also when she was weaning, I would take it off her altogether and tell her no and I wouldn't breast feed her til the next time she was due. I could only do this though when I knew she wasn't starving hungry, as she'd had a solid 'meal' as well.

Answer 7

When he bites, take him off and firmly tell him no.  It seemed like my son would go through this with every new tooth (like he had to try it out or something).  I would always take him off and firmly tell him no (that is, if I could keep my composure and not just go "OUCH!!!!!" -- which would always make him cry).  Then try again.  If his tooth touches you, take it out and try again.  Keep up with a good latch or else when they get more teeth, they get lazy and hold you with their teeth (not necessarily biting you, but it will rub and be painful).  He'll get over it!!

Kudos to you for persevering!!