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I had the same thing with À. I didn't implement manners as such,but I started giving her an A&A lovely to hold during nursing sessions and if she started nipping, etc, then I'm put her fingers on the blanket instead. I also cut her nails à lot, lol.

I can't remember how old your little guy is, but F went through a " rough" nursing stage like you described for a while. I also gave him something for his hands when he hit & a pacifier for when he bit (I say "I won't let you hurt mommy, you can play with/bit on this"). It was pretty successful for us. If he really hurt me after I told him not to, I'd end the session (I think I only did it a few times and it was for biting). He'd cry, but get over it & I'd let him nurse again soon after if he asked. We taught him sign language for milk & please too, because he started pulling at my shirt or slapping my chest or buring his head in my chest when he was hungry.

I think it's. stage, but also a good opportunity to create and entire respectful boundaries with him.

Yes.

When she scratched I would take her hand and hold it flat and showed her how to do "gentle touches". She still was able to touch me but wasn't scratching my skin off. It also was nice as she had to learn gentle touches for playing with friends.

For biting I just immediately took the boob away. If she did it a second time the session ended completely.

We work on gentle touch a lot with the dog so I say the same kind of things to lo when she scratches or pinches me. I say be gentle, be nice and rub her hands gently. She definitely gets it because at first she gets mad but then she stops. She's still more likely to be rough with me but when others are holding her and I feel like she's going to scratch or something I say be gentle and she does stop.

If you have access to it, Ina May Gaskin's BFing book has an EXCELLENT chapter on nursing manners. I re-read it when my daughter was teething and it helped SO much - I implemented her rules the first time DD bit me and it hasn't happened since (that was 4+ months ago). I strongly recommend buying the book or getting it at the library.

@rahlyrah: this sounds terrible but my LO only "gets it" if he cries after a bite. Not that I make him cry. But if I just say it he will go back to biting. If he bites me hard enough that I startle and yell and he gets scared and cries, he won't do it again. Until he cuts another tooth that is.

Meh, I think redirection is key at their young age. DD likes to grab my other boob/nipple or put her hand in my mouth, so I hold her hand instead to distract her. I like PPs ideas of a lovey or something along those lines. If she starts standing up, getting crazy, I will readjust her position to laying again.

@septca: I second this! I haven't nursed yet or even given birth yet so I obviously have no experience but that section really resonated with me when I read it. It made a lot of sense!