LO is 15 months old, and my supply has been decreasing lately. I suspect she's also teething. When she wants to nurse and isn't getting much, or letdown is taking too long, she has been getting frustrated and biting. When she does it, I have been telling her "no, you can't bite mommy. If you bite, the milk goes away" and ending the nursing session (cue meltdowns and pitiful cries of "milk! milk! milk!"). It doesn't seem to be making any difference, though! She's a boobmonster and isn't ready to wean yet, and I was planning on nursing her for a couple more months, but I'm truly scared every time she latches on lately. It hurts so much! But as long as the milk is flowing, she's just fine. Has anyone dealt with something similar and managed to get through it and keep nursing? Or is the only solution to wean before she naturally decides to do it (I can't even imagine the trauma and tantrums that will ensue)? Help!!
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i totally feel you on the terror of weaning before she's ready! i'm right there too. LO hasn't been biting, but i have noticed that she latches differently when she's getting teeth, and for some reason when i'm ovulating (i think my supply decreases?) and occasionally she'll clamp down a little, though i can usually catch it before she bites. When she's teething, i'll often give her something cold to chomp on for a few minutes before she nurses, and it makes her less likely to bite. if it's supply, maybe try to nurse when she's not overly hungry (like closer to meals)? give her a few cheerios or something before you nurse? As for reaction, i think you're doing the right thing, and she'll eventually get the message!
I think this is a tough age because they understand so much but you can't yet reason with them.
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@Pirouette: it mainly happens when she wants to nurse soon after she's already nursed. I just don't fill up as fast as I used to -- particularly around ovulation and the first day or two of AF. Weekdays aren't so bad because I'm at work so she nurses in the morning, when I pick her up from daycare, a little bit at bedtime, and usually once around 4am. But on weekends, she asks all the time and sometimes I can distract her with a straw cup of WCM and/or a snack, but sometimes not. The girl has an iron will, haha. And I think the time change has thrown her a bit because she woke twice last night and the second time was a total disaster. I've been trying to do the "don't offer, don't refuse" thing but I may have to start refusing when I know it's not going to go well
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@PurplePeony: i could have written everything you just said (except she doesn't tend to bite, just asks again very soon after if she doesn't get enough). i think our daughters would get along really well with their stubborn attitudes
i think it's just that they are starting to get so independent, and then wanting to nurse more at times to find something familiar, or something like that. I'm currently trying to wean the 4am session (or all nighttime, whenever that session occurs) and it's a nightmare. makes me feel like daytime weaning is going to be the hardest thing i've ever done in my life unless i wait until she's fully ready!
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@PurplePeony: Good luck! I was pretty firm with Oh, that hurts Mommy and end the session. We nursed for over 18 months.
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I screeched and said "OUCH," which scared her, she cried, and then she stopped biting me. Sometimes she'll scrape her teeth on me and I say the same thing. She's not a huge biter and we're still nursing at 17 months.
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@Pirouette: I agree, they sound a lot alike!
@T.H.O.U.: @avivoca: you guys are lucky(ish). My DD is such a devil, she either laughs at me when I yelp or she puts her own finger against her lips and says "noooooo. Nonono" before I even have a chance to say anything. If I'm really stern, she turns on the tears but she doesn't seem to have registered the cause-and-effect yet (i.e. bite equals no more milk).
i think it's just that they are starting to get so independent, and then wanting to nurse more at times to find something familiar, or something like that. I'm currently trying to wean the 4am session (or all nighttime, whenever that session occurs) and it's a nightmare. makes me feel like daytime weaning is going to be the hardest thing i've ever done in my life unless i wait until she's fully ready!
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