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Nursing baby learned to bite :-(


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My seven month old boy just cut two teeth on the bottom and he likes to use them. He usually chomps down at the end of a nursing session. I've tried ending the nursing session, firmly telling him no, and lightly flicking his mouth but it just doesn't seem to phase him. I have no idea what to do with him! Each of my girls tried this once and never again. I almost dread nursing him. Besides the biting, I have to hold his arms down because he likes to grab and pinch/squeeze anything that he gets his hands on. One lady told me that it was time to quit nursing. :crying: Any tips/advice?

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Generally my biters did it at the end of nursing sessions too, when they were no longer hungry and just playing. I learned to end the session when I noticed that they were pretty much done. My youngest bit more. I think it is because I paid less attention to him while feeding since I had 3 other kids running around.

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What helped me was pulling them inward for a second when they bite, because it smooshes their nose a tiny bit and they open their mouth and release. That combined with a firm no or putting them down for 2 mins usually worked to convey that mama wasn't happy with that.

 

Have you tried a nursing necklace? Some babies can be redirected to twiddle the beads, etc. on them vs. you. Twiddling speeds up the letdown, so it is understandable why they do it, even if it can be annoying.

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If you don't want to quit nursing - as SOON as he bites *once* - the session is over. zero tolerance policy. if he's biting, he's not hungry. (it's impossible to suck AND bite at the same time.) Say "no", put him down, stand up and close up shop and don't play with him either right afterwards.

 

he'll get the message. give him something squishy to squeeze while you nurse - or else the same thing. "no", and close up shop. zero tolerance.

 

some babies love to nurse, some just don't care. there really is a difference in the infant.

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If you don't want to quit nursing - as SOON as he bites *once* - the session is over. zero tolerance policy. if he's biting, he's not hungry. (it's impossible to suck AND bite at the same time.) Say "no", put him down, stand up and close up shop and don't play with him either right afterwards.

 

he'll get the message. give him something squishy to squeeze while you nurse - or else the same thing. "no", and close up shop. zero tolerance.

 

some babies love to nurse, some just don't care. there really is a difference in the infant.

 

 

Totally this. I have experience.

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What helped me was pulling them inward for a second when they bite, because it smooshes their nose a tiny bit and they open their mouth and release. That combined with a firm no or putting them down for 2 mins usually worked to convey that mama wasn't happy with that.

This works and doesn't convey any frustration or facial reaction (which the baby might find amusing). Brownie

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What helped me was pulling them inward for a second when they bite, because it smooshes their nose a tiny bit and they open their mouth and release. That combined with a firm no or putting them down for 2 mins usually worked to convey that mama wasn't happy with that.

 

 

:iagree:

 

Dd thought the *sad face* Ow! teeth hurt mommy!" and everything like that was HILARIOUS! The only thing that worked was pulling her into the breast. It made her very angry but it worked.

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What helped me was pulling them inward for a second when they bite, because it smooshes their nose a tiny bit and they open their mouth and release. That combined with a firm no or putting them down for 2 mins usually worked to convey that mama wasn't happy with that.

 

Have you tried a nursing necklace? Some babies can be redirected to twiddle the beads, etc. on them vs. you. Twiddling speeds up the letdown, so it is understandable why they do it, even if it can be annoying.

 

:iagree:

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My first daughter was like this. She thought it was just hilarious if she could catch me off guard and make me jump. Talking about how it hurt Mommy just seemed to amuse her more. I tried pulling her in when she bit, and that was a good way to get her to release when she had bitten, but it didn't deter her from doing it again. I started immediately ending the nursing session when she bit, and she quickly learned to wait until she was full to bite. So I would watch her for any little hint that she was slowing down or that her focus was starting to wander, so that I could stop her before she bit. Then she started biting me at other times, trying to shock me into jumping or better yet, making a noise. One day when she was about a year old she snuck up behind me and sunk her teeth into my leg. I jumped and yelled in shock, and my husband picked her up and bit her. It was so sad, but she never bit me again.

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Thanks for all the advice. I guess I'm definitely going to have to pay more attention while he's eating and stop when he seems full. I've been trying to keep him eating longer because he's not gaining according to those silly charts at the doctor's office. (He's healthy otherwise; I'm not concerned but my doctor was a little). I'll try a nursing necklace. I've been wanting to get something he can chew on anyways so I'll try one of those silicone necklaces.

 

I just cannot get over how fidgety he is! He never stops moving, ever! LOL

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