Help please! I've got a biter

**Niniel** · 07-11-2010, 09:56pm

I desperately need some advice please. My dd2 is almost a year old (she's turns 1 on the 10th). We're still breastfeeding pretty frequently, every couple of hours during the day and a few times at night. I've had issues on and off with her biting but the last few days have been awful. She bit me 3 times last night and broke the skin (she was upset at the time and I was trying to settle her), tonight she bit me again. She was going off to sleep and stirred a little and chomped down. I don't think she meant to do it tonight but last night she did it on purpose, she clamp down on the nipple and pulled her head back, it was excruciating. I've asked the HV for advice and she said she didn't really know what to do so asked a midwife colleague who said I should stop breastfeeding. My husband and certain members of my family are being quite unsupportive about it too and just tell me to wean. I'm not ready to wean her but more importantly I don't think she is ready, she's never had a dummy or anything so breastfeeding is a big comfort to her. I've searched online for advice but a lot of it seems to apply to younger babies. When she bites I generally stop the feed an sit her down but it doesn't stop her from doing it again.

Does anyone have any experience of this or any advice?

thank you

**suemarie** · 07-11-2010, 09:59pm

Sorry no advice as my DD2 is 8 months & occ bites now & again, will be watching this thread with interest though.

**claireh** · 07-11-2010, 10:01pm

The advice I was given was to say a very very stern no and then put her down on the floor and turn away. They very very soon put two and two together and stop.

It is certainly no reason to stop breastfeeding.

**violet wallop** · 07-11-2010, 10:42pm

Originally Posted by claireh

The advice I was given was to say a very very stern no and then put her down on the floor and turn away. They very very soon put two and two together and stop.

That's exactly what I did and it did work.

**Dr Know** · 07-11-2010, 10:54pm

Originally Posted by claireh

The advice I was given was to say a very very stern no and then put her down on the floor and turn away. They very very soon put two and two together and stop.

ITA

**TopStar** · 07-11-2010, 10:57pm

DS bit me when I misjudged his hunger and try to feed him or settle him when hes all over the place.
I used to just push him in to the boobs and he stops, he doesnt do it anymore.
Is she teething? Try being stern or pushing her in to the boobs or any other method. It might just be a phase.

I agree the pain is excruciating, I compare to giving birth.

**Lilacgirl** · 07-11-2010, 11:07pm

Zach did this a few times at right around 1, it didn't last though thankfully. I think I did the "no" thing and stop feeding for a minute.
I think it might have been when he was teething, thinking back.

**Jeany** · 08-11-2010, 08:20am

I push into the boob to release the bite, then stop feeding for a minute. Just keep repeating until they stop. I have done the NO with the others but Ds2 finds it funny and does it more

.
Certainly not a reason to stop feeding. Somehealth care professionals still seem to think feeding beyond 6months is an issue. My GP told me to stop feeding Dd1 at 12 months because I got mastitis, one and only time I had it! I didn't take his advise.

**Supercali** · 08-11-2010, 09:03am

Oh no, I totally sympathise as Ryder used to do exactly the same. I think my screams in his ear put him off for a while but I would say 'No!' sternly and put him down just as the others have suggested.

it is excrutiating though. He did eventually stop the deliberate biting but occasionally did when falling asleep, which Elyssia does sometimes too. I'm dreading her getting her top teeth through.

**Niniel** · 08-11-2010, 03:01pm

thank you for all the replies. It's good to hear from people who have been through a biting phase and have continued to breast feed. Hopefully she'll grow out of it soon!

xx