Hi Ladies,
My 16 week old DS got his first tooth... we were very surprised TBH, thought he was teething but thought it'd be ages before we saw a tooth. Since we've told people the first question has been so when are you giving up BF?
I don't want to at the moment, we've a holiday booked soon and was hoping to continue to BF right up until introducing solids at 5.5 months or so....
So far, no biting (well it is only tiny) and its only slightly uncomfortable some of the time when he latches on. I've a number of questions that some of you might be able to help me with.
How did you cope once, as one book puts it a 'dental ditty' appeared? Have you any suggestion or anything?
Plus any advice on 'remedies' for teething?
How old was your LO when their first tooth arrived?
Thanks.
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Both my DS had 2 teeth by 12 weeks, both BF exclusively until 26 weeks and then on to 15 months, the thing to do if he bites is put him down straight away (inserting a finger to break the latch or bite if needed) , no eye contact, just for a few seconds. He'll learn that it's not ok and results in being taken off the boob. Having said that one of mine bit so hard I flicked him on the cheek a few times in pain before he'd let go We all survived and the phase passed... Sx
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It was only with dd that I was still breast-feeding when teeth appeared. She was 8 months old. I fed her for another 7 months. It was a bit 'grate-y' on occasions but nothing major. You get used to it and so do they. I think the biggest likelihood of biting is when they've just cut a new tooth. No wisdom to offer though
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DS got two teeth at around five months and it didn't seem to affect BF at all - his latch felt a little odd when they were coming up but it's fine now. That said, those were bottom ones so they're covered by his tongue when he's feeding anyway; he has top ones coming now and I'm wondering whether they'll be more noticeable.
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Full mouth of teeth here and no problem feeding. Never ever bit by him. Ds1 bit once by accident. Dd bit a couple of times but I took her off and she never did again. Actually, it was more of a "squeeze" than a bite as she hadn't any teeth at the time!
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I think that people are horrified at the thoughts of breastfeeding a baby with teeth because they imagine that breastfeeding involves chewing, but as you know yourself, sucking is totally different to chewing - it uses the jaw and tongue and there are no teeth involved!
DS got his first tooth at 20 weeks and I had NO problems feeding him with teeth. The only issues we had were the odd accidental nip and some slight tenderness around the aerola if a new tooth rubbed, but that didn't always happen.
ETA a very important 'NO'... very glad I came back to this thread and noticed!
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Thanks Ladies, that's put my mind at rest a lot.
Since telling people I've found a tooth almost everyone has hinted that I should stop BFing. I didn't want to do that as he's thriving at the moment, he's 14.4lb now (weighted) and the Dr and PHN are all very pleased with his progress.
Why do people feel the need to tell you what to do, even when some don't have kids or have no experience of BF? I do know some people mean well and are thinking about me but its still hard to fend of well intentioned advice!
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My ds cut his first couple of teeth between 12-15 weeks and we had no issues. When he was about 6 months old he did have a bit of trouble and on one occasion bit me so hard I bled .. but I jumped so high that he immediately got the message and never did it again.
Dd never bit me at all.
My ds had all of his teeth by 13 months so he got them quickly and consistently in that first year and that was the only time he hurt me (he actually looked straight into my eyes just before he did it almost by way of say 'I'm sorry, but I really have to have a little chomp')
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Oh, ignore all that. It's the start of the reasons why you should give up ... the only reason you should give up is when you decide you're giving up. Start developing that selective hearing now
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Thanks leaev, I do try, but it's hard!!
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If the baby is latched on properly, biting isn't possible as the tongue action needed means that the nipple is a lot further into the mouth than you'd think.
Try sucking your thumb. If you only put it in to the first knuckle, then you'll feel your teeth but if you put it in all the way and suck, then you can't feel the bottom teeth and can just get a sensation of the upper teeth. That's the difference between a breastfeeding suck and a bite
I've 3 kids, the older two bf til well past their third birthdays, when they had a full set of 20 teeth, and the youngest is still bfing at 2 years old with 16 teeth. IMO, they're called "milk teeth" because babies are programmed to keep feeding until all of them are in.
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BF DD1 until 18 months and only once got a serious bite...but it was her trying it out, and I obviously had gotten slack at the end of a feed and she was bored and thought she'd try it. As other posters say, straight off once they do (try not to screech as it frightens them!), they soon learn not to even attempt it, and make sure you don't dawdle with them at the end of a feed when their imaginations start working!!
And only finish BF when you want. I just stopped mentioning it as I know people get a bit funny once you BF past 6 months! And by about 15 months it was only twice a day so it wasn't in public either....
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DD has 2 teeth & drew blood from me today I think she is just teething so badly she is really biting for comfort. I really couldn't keep feeding if this keeps up.
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DS2's had two teeth before I noticed so didn't affect the feeding. Found the gummy clamp on my nipple a lot worse than the one bite I've gotten with teeth.
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same! ds2 has 4 teeth with a fifth and sixth on the way. Only one bite here so far.
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Fed ds1 for 14 months and only had a coulple of biting incidents. Always at the end of a feed when he was just coming off, i could see when he was going to do it. Also, i noticed when i gave him a soft spouted sippy cup the biting would occur. Needless to say the cup was swiftly thrown out When he was teething, i would notice a 'grating' feeling, iykwim, not painful tho. Ds2 is 9mths, has 8 teeth and bit me for the first time last week! Not hard, but i did squeal, and he cried. Hopefully will feed him till he decides to stop (like ds1)
Take no notice of people who give their 'well meaning' advice. Enjoy your time BFing! (hopefully bite-free!)
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Thanks Ladies for all the replies and advice. My plan is to continue for the moment, want to get to the 6 month mark and then to see how we're getting on.
Sometimes though, I'm just so tired and could do with one solid 8 hour sleep. He's still waking for a night feed... not every night but every second night or so... when does this stop? Or is it part of the BF and I just have to accept it?
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Nothing to do with bf, could be the same if bottle feeding. Dd2 is eight months and still wakes twice a night every night. Dh puts lots of pressure on me to stop. She is now on two bottles during the day as I'm back at work. She eats all around her but still wakes at night.
On the other hand dd1 was bf and slept through from 6 weeks.
Esch baby is different.
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Thanks Donnie.... just as I suspected... something I will just have to get used to...
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part of the joy of parenthood!!
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DS's second tooth arrived yesterday!!!
All going well so far... not bites as yet.. but I can feel the teeth when he latches on initially for a few seconds... it's not actually sore iykwim but a bit uncomfortable initially... did any of you experience this and is that normal ?
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Sounds normal to me. Only for a couple of weeks though, I don't feel them at all anymore. I'm not even aware of them.
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DD1 got her first two teeth at 9 months and her next 2 teeth at 13 months. She didn't bite me until she was closer to 2 years old and then giggled. But she quickly realised that biting led to the end of nursing session so she stopped doing that.
DD2 got her first tooth at 13 months and used me as a teething ring. She even bit me very hard when she was 8 months and had no teeth. But now that she has 2 teeth the biting has stopped and with teeth it was never that sore.
For easing the gum soreness, I would give a frozen (clean) washcloth, frozen teething ring or teetha. They worked for me (plus an amber necklace - both my girls had a big decrease in drooling, teething pain and distress with the necklace.)
And ITA with Leav, you will hear loads of of reasons to stop breastfeeding but the only good reason is when you are ready to stop. Ignore all this "helpful" advice and go with what works for you, and with the advice that you find useful.
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