Need help, LO bit me!

[hwinte87]

Hey there! My little one is, unfortunately, a biter. He's bitten me a few times now but this last time it's taken a while to heal. I am worried it's getting infected! I've been giving the injured nipple plenty of air time and also have been using lanolin on it. What else can I do? It is so painful when he nurses I need something to bite on. Please help!!

[RunawayBunny]

I know human bites can get infected very easily. You may want to see a doc. If it were me, I might try hand expressing on that side a few times a day instead of nursing to give it some rest (pumping?).

As far as the biting goes, at my last LLL meeting they said to try not to react, but stop the nursing session immediately as if to say, "boobs are for nursing and you aren't nursing if you are biting... you are playing".

So sorry mama!

[ChocoMeijin]

I know other mamas out there will chime in as well, but i just wanted to say that pumping hurts way more with a bite than nursing! I've had to deal with that a few times, ouch! Just keep up with what you're doing and it should heal just fine. I would even leave some milk on it to evaporate, i found that helped me better than lanolin.

Also when your DS bites you can smush his face into your breast and he will let go, but this is also a painful few seconds!

I find that my DS has a 'pattern' of biting so when i know he is going to bite i stick my finger in the side of his mouth so he can't snap his jaws shut. Then i can pull out my nipple with minimal damage! Also works if his jaw is already closed i can gently pry it open with my finger and do the same thing. You need short nails though! But for me personally it is more effective than the boob smushing.

Good luck and i hope you feel better, i'm healing right now too :P

[rcima]

I'm right there with you, mama. DD bit me two weeks ago and I'm struggling with getting the wound to heal. Unfortunately bc DD is almost 13 months, its difficult to let it air out bc if she sees my exposed breast she wants to nurse. And tell me about 'ouch!', I sometimes clamp down on DH's knuckle while she latches on!

[Mamma527]

Soaking it in a sal****er solution should help. I think there is some information about it on Kellymom

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...lehealing.html

[hwinte87]

Thanks for the replies. I read on Kellymom.com that neosporin was ok to use and have been using that. I've definitely seen improvement but it's slow healing. Hope you other mamas are feeling relief soon too! I love bfing but the biting is the worst by far! Oh, and I've definitely learned when DS is going to bite, it was partly my fault for nursing him in the noisy living room where he kept getting distracted.

[amymax]

Ouch, I would see a doc about that. Also I have heard that when your LO bites it is important not to make a big deal because they get a kick out of your reaction.