7 month old biting when breastfeeding

Hello

My LO is 7 and half months old but has all 8 front teeth already. This hasn't been a problem up until now. Last couple of days his teeth have been digging in when feeding. Before this, he would do the odd bite but not when actually feeding so I could just unlatch him. But now its almost like his teeth are getting in the way of feeding..

Has anyone any advice? Its quite painful but I don't want to stop breastfeeding. He's never taken to a bottle and only drinks a small amount from a beaker.

If he is actually biting you (as opposed to the teeth feeling uncomfy in themselves iyswim) then you can try:

pushing him on when he does it so he has to stop and pull off to breathe

saying no and removing him

giving him a teether- perhaps one with gel/water inside from the fridge to cool his gums before feeding

I'm sure people with babies with lots of teeth can help if its that- s still only has a couple!

Thanks, he's not actually biting but his teeth are kind of rubbing... he has bitten me in the past but its at the end when he's not interested much anymore, I just take him off then...

Hmmm. I don't know then. Have you tried experimenting with positions? I know at one point I went back to the rugby hold position when I was getting sore and made sure she was getting the nipple far back enough as her latch got a little lazy.

Have you tried lansinoh etc inbetween to help at all? (not that stops it obv but might help a little?)

Thanks, yes I will experiment with position... he;s quite long now and it can be difficult to get him in position. So it may be that his weight is dragging down a bit. Yes will use the Lansinoh cream ... thought I'd seen the last of that a while ago I'm hoping its a fairly minor thing. I've always thought I'd stop when I want to rather than having to.

I found I had to do it sitting in bed in this position due to her length (when she was older). I would sit away from the head of the bed so there was enough room behind me to lay her on top of pillows to my side. Or I'd be mean and scrunch her legs up in the air behind me on the sofa!

Hopefully it will pass, I agree its always nice to choose when you are ready not have something make you stop.

I remember being glad I hadn't chucked the lansinoh out around that age and surprised I needed it again. It seems strange to encounter problems so much later on doesn't it? Still everything is always changing so bfeeding is no different I suppose.

Good luck!

You can also try feeing with him sitting up - he can straddle your lap (you might have to lean back a bit depending on how big your boobs are and how tall he is). This way his weight won't drag him down. Or try supporting him with cushions. I have found a similar issue to be particularly bad when M is pulling my nipple too far to the side (I have big boobs and when I'm being lazy and he's being lazy this can happen). Also his latch gets bad/lazy when he's teething, when he's poorly, and when he is congested.

Well things have improved a bit after fiddling with his position. Its now ok on one side but still sore on the left. I think its to do with his head angle which needs to be tilted back more but its hard to get him to do this and still be able to hold his whole body in line. I will try using the bed or maybe the sitting up position. I think we had got a bit lazy about position etc.. he is teething and is congested.. has been pretty much since winter started.

Thanks for all your advice

Someone posted this link recently  http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/biting.html#prevent  - mentions pretty much what has already been suggested on here, and also about tilting the head back which you've discovered.

I'm worried it'll happen to me soon - top teeth just coming through, lazy latch when co-sleeping already means a sharp shock from the bottom two, but like you don't want to stop.