My 6 Month Old Keeps Trying to Detach My Nipples!

I don't know if you've tried this, but when my son did that to me, my response would be to detach him, tell him "no", and put him down a couple feet away from me, all in quick succession so there'd be no question why he was being pushed away. He would scream like nobody's business for a couple of minutes, and during that time I would tell him not to bite mama, that he didn't like being put down and mama didn't like being bitten. I think we did that five times over a two day period, and no chomping after that.

my daughter clamps down or turns her head when she is done or if she got distracted. Try not to give her a big reaction, but remove her if it hurts and if she's still hungry let her back on. I also found covering her ear with my other hand helps diminish sound distractions

OH I remember that!!! That was terrible! I'm so sorry she's tugging at you! I remember my son doing that but I don't remember why. I think I stopped it by breaking the suction, saying OUCH or NO and waiting to reattach. Another thing I tried was switching boobs whenever he did that and I think I discovered that I was low on milk in the one he would play tug-of-war with. I don't remember for sure but I remember it hurting! It is normal. It will go away! Good luck!

Yeoch. Both my sons did this, so I TOTALLY understand what you're going through.

Here's what I did:

when she clamps down, pull her firmly close. That should cause her to let go (so that she can breath). Don't shout (that's really hard) because she may either go on a nursing strike, or worse, think "look what I can make mommy do!" (It's what my first son did ::shudder::).

When the baby lets go, bring her up to your face, say firmly "no bite, that hurts mommy" then put her on the floor. She won't like it, and you can pick her up immediately. If she bites a second time then don't latch her again for a while.

Do this every time. She'll learn in about a week, max, that hurting mommy means no mommy. Worked for me both times.

So much good luck to you!

I know exactly what you are talking about! My 18 month old likes to do headstands while nursing! :) She is the youngest of my 3 girls my oldest I nursed until she was 2 1/2. I agree with the other mom's in that you should pull her off and say no or ouch that hurt's mommy. She will get mad and probably start crying when you take her off but just tell her firmly. She probably is teething so I highly recommend giving her homeopathic teething tablets. You can pick them up at Henry's and they are a life saver. All three of my girls are at some stage of teeth issues (6, 3, and 18 months) and I give it to all of them. Good luck!

When your baby clamps down, put your little finger in the side of her mouth and break the suction and the grip. Remove her from the nipple. Wait about 30 seconds before introducing it again. After a while she will realize that your breast is not a rubber pacifier!

flick her nose or cheek immediately when she does it (or while she's doing it if possible) and say "no" firmly at the same time. i have three children (my youngest is 7.5 months and still breastfeeding) and they all go through this stage. she is probably teething which is why she is chomping on you, but it hurts whether she's got teeth or not. when you flick her, do it hard enough to get your point across but not hard enough to inflict real pain, just to make it sting a little. it worked for all of my kids.

for what it's worth, my son starting doing this at around 7 months and i tried EVERYTHING to get him to stop: stopped the nursing session, plugged his nose, yelled...and, yes, shamefully even gave him a firm pat once. nothing worked and i was about ready to give up nursing altogether

then one day he just stopped and hasn't done it since. no idea why.

sorry, this probably isn't all that helpful...just wanted you to know that sometimes they will just quit it on their own

good luck!

Don't pry her off! Quickly plug her little nose and she will let go. That is what a lactation class I took said anyway. Sounds cruel, but I don't think it is if you want to keep going. So sorry mama, I know that must hurt! Good luck

Maybe she's teething.
My kids as babies did that when they were teething.
It will pass... you CAN continue nursing... when she clamps down on you & twists your nipples... just detach her right then and there, and tell her "no" firmly and make your facial expression to reflect "pain" or unhappiness, and tell her it "hurts" Mommy.

I went through stages of that when my kids were babies and I was nursing. But it passes... and for me, it was not a reason to stop nursing.

All the best,
Susan

Okay here goes lots of frowns. But have been there SEVERAL times. I tried pulling them off, breaking suction, even cried a few times. Some kids it works others, Not until I bled(I simply quit the 2nd time he did it..and giggled at 6months)But one I "thwaped" under the chin(kinda reverse snap)and that worked, did it 2 separate times with one and did not do it again. Was the last thing before I quit nursing, but did not need to:) Good luck..if it is just teething the homoeopathic tablets work wonders, and give her something to teeth on instead of your nipple.

I think it's just part of it...both of my sons have done that. Just wait until she has teeth! That's good times. I think they just get curious about what's going on around them and try and look around all while not letting go of the boob. I think sometimes too when my son is trying to get it out faster than it's coming, he pulls on them. Keep it up though, you'll get through it.

Hi K.,
Ouch girl! I was cringing as I was reading your story. Have you tried plugging her nose? She's gotta come up for air eventually right? I haven't had this problem personally with my kids, but it worked like a charm for my Mom with my sister. Good luck!

My son started biting me when his first two teeth came in (front bottom) and they were so sharp (spike, not flat) I had them shaved off so he didn't cut his upper gums. Anyway, after he drew blood two or three times I couldn't take it anymore and I stopped nursing and he was fine with it so maybe that was his method of weaning himself. I was not successful so sorry I didn't have anything more helpful to offer, just "I've been there!!".
I do think the best method I have heard is the detach, face to face say No firmly but not raising your voice, and put them down for about a minute.