Friday, May 25, 2012

Breastfeeding + Teeth = Angry Momma

So at nearly 8 months old, Griffin and I are still truckin' along with the whole breastfeeding thing. He doesn't exclusively feed by boob anymore. It's more like 80-20 (80% bottle, 20% me). And really now that he's eating almost any solid (mashed up,of course) that he can get his hands on, he's only been needing a bottle a couple of times a day and me another couple of times a day. We've been nursing in the morning and once in the afternoon. I have to say though that in the afternoon there isn't much there I don't think. Mostly he does it for comfort I think. 


Who me?


A new breastfeeding problem has arisen recently. It showed up around the same time that two pretty little white teeth did too. :) Griffin, now that he is older, is easily distracted. Pretty much what goes through his blonde head these days is " Hey, what's that light over there! ", "Hey, what's that noise over there!", " Hey, what's my loud brother running by me doing!". You get the idea. The problem with all this distraction is that Griffin isn't letting go while turning his head the 100 times he has to see what's going on per nursing session. I SWEAR that those two little teeth are starting to do some SERIOUS damage to my motherly objects. 


I have tried going to a quieter spot to nurse Griffin but he still cranes his neck around to see what's going on plus I really don't like to leave the other two boys alone too long. Someone is always hitting or kicking the other  when I'm not around and the noise, tears, and destruction are just not worth it. 


My question is to you friends, Did your little one ever do this? How do you get them to stop and focus? He's not really biting me, just firmly nursing. I don't want to tell him NO and then confuse him. I love our little nursing moments together and I don't want to give them up. On the other hand I'm in serious, torn up pain over here. What the heck do I do??



8 comments:

Elizabeth said...

ouch! I don't have personal experience in this area as I had to pump milk for my 2...which is a whole 'nother kind of ouch. I have heard that this is an opportunity to teach "no", but since he's not really biting, I'm not sure. Would you consider a nipple shield? It's wouldn't be the best idea if you were just starting/trying to increase supply...but since you aren't, maybe it might make it more comfortable for you. My mother-in-law even put a bottle nipple on top of hers (back in the day...pre-medela shields). Good luck!

Unknown said...

Hummm that is a tough one. I guess all of mine did it but it did not hurt. It really hurt when they would bite. When they would bite I would give their thigh a little pinch showing them bite=pain :) But Griffin is not biting. Maybe talking to him so he focuses on you??? I am not sure if I get hit with a wind of wisdom I will let you know. I would say keep going until you can't take it anymore. I know I gave up early on one and I ended up being really sad about it. Not nutritionally but just missing those sweet moments. He Is sooooo cute! I want to squeeze those chubby cheeks :)

Tristan said...

i miss nursing my baby! but dont miss the teeth.,.LOL

Kacey said...

Teeth haven't come into the equation yet but I totally get what you mean with their little face whipping around to check out everything! I sometimes wonder how much James is getting with all the stop/starting. I also love how our little guys are so close in age. James also gets the same curious look on his face! Good work with breast feeding for so long, you've done a great job!

Beth Ann said...

http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/biting/

There's a resource for you! I don't know what to tell you of course. But I think it is awesome that you are still able to nurse some!

The Anglin Family said...

I don't have any advice but I think my future son in law is pretty darn cute. Preshy!!! I want to squeeze him, he's perfect!!

DandelionBreeze said...

Ouch !! Maybe try draping a light blanket/sheet over your shoulder and over him, so that he can't see around him. Thinking of you xoxo

The Momma said...

Ugh. Neither of my kids bit, with the boy I only nursed him for 6 months so he didnt have the teeth to bite yet, but the baby girl I nursed for 12 and she definitely had teeth, but I don't ever remember her biting. But I do remember hearing that if they did bite, to unlatch them, hold onto their cheek, and say no sir, no bite, and then let them relatch. They learn that you make them let go when they bite and they apparently they don't do it anymore....not sure if that helps, but worth a shot...

 
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