For those of you that breast fed, how did you handle biting? I took Olivia off my breast & said "no" in a stern voice, & she cried. After a few minutes I put her back on & she did it again, so I repeated what I had done before. I put her back on & she did it again, this time I tapped her check, said "no" & set her on the ground. She ended up biting me 3 more times before refusing the breast altogether & crying herself to sleep. At this point I don't want my breast back in her mouth, it REALLY hurt, but she won't take a bottle. I wanted to breast feed for her first year, I just don't know what to do.
There was a time that I didn't thin I could make it past her 3rd month & you all helped so much...

By Sunny on Friday, October 1, 2004 - 11:26 am:

Be consistent. Every time she bites, tell her 'no biting' in a stern voice and give her a serious look. If she does it again, take her off the breast and give her something she can bite or give her a cup with water in it. She'll learn eventually. Hang in there! It will pass.

By Cat on Friday, October 1, 2004 - 11:32 am:

Youch! I remember that. {{{{{Emily}}}}} When mine bit, they were done. Yes, they cried, but they learned really fast if they wanted to eat they couldn't bite. I did exactly what you did, took them off, told them no--that hurts, and sometimes would tap their cheek or mouth. Don't let her try again for at least a little while (or until the next feeding if you felt she got enough). Robin nursed for 13 months and Randy for 22 so YOU CAN DO THIS!!! I know it's hard and frustrating. We're here for ya. More Hugs.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, October 1, 2004 - 12:23 pm:

BTDT. The first time I firmly said, "No biting." If they did it again the nursing session was over. I put them down and buttoned up. Yes, they cried, but they got the message after doing that 2 or 3 times. If they're biting they're obviously not hungry! LOL!

By Emily7 on Friday, October 1, 2004 - 12:38 pm:

This happened at the start of the feeding. It had been 3 hours since her last meal.
Thanks for the advice. I hope it works. I forgot how sharp baby teeth were.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, October 1, 2004 - 02:56 pm:

My older dd was the biter! LOL! Just a few times when she first got her teeth, around 5 months old. She only did a few times and then learned to nurse without doing that!

By Pamt on Saturday, October 2, 2004 - 11:21 am:

Ditto everyone else. A firm "NO" and discontinue nursing. It only took once or twice for them to learn. And yes...those baby teeth are razor sharp aren't they?

By Tink on Saturday, October 2, 2004 - 10:19 pm:

How were her next few feedings, Emily? Mine each bit once or twice and I did the same things that everyone else ahs suggested. I was able to nurse my youngest for 13 months and loved it. Keep with it if that's what you want. It is a great thing. I hope she settles down after testing those new additions to her mouth.

By Jewlz on Saturday, October 2, 2004 - 11:57 pm:

the first time i got bit i was in shock ...never dreamed he would do it so out of reaction i smaked him and cried and cuz he hurt me bad ...and then out the shock i smacked him then just cuz .... it wasnt hard ..but it was out of just pure shock .... he only did it once ... my daughter did it twice the first time i tapped her cheek and said no biting loud .... and the second time she looked at me like oops im sorry please dont take it away ... lol she knew she did something wrong then ...

By Emily7 on Sunday, October 3, 2004 - 12:28 pm:

I am having a hard time getting her to eat now. I think she feels like she was getting in trouble for latching on. I can only get her to eat just as she goes to sleep, otherwise she cries. I don't understand what I did wrong. I just tapped her cheek & said no. When she is alseep & eating she hasn't bitten me.