biting...

[Helen GV]

My 13 month old son has started biting me! Not while feeding thankfully but he'll pull himself up while I'm doing the dishes for example and take a chunk out of my leg!

I have tried saying 'please don't bite me, it hurts', and I have tried yelping loudly, but he gets upset and out comes the bottom lip and the tears... He bit me on the chin while we were at the doctors the other day and I had to go and check for blood (there wasn't any but it really hurt...)

Any ideas of causes or solutions/ experience of similar..?

Helen

[melbourne groover]

Not really a quick fix but I think the saying firmly no and putting them down/away from you (whenever practical) does pay dividends eventually (relatively short period of time really)....

Also learning to duck away quickly is quite handy ;-)

[malleymoo]

Hi I too had a little biter some children seem to be more inclined to bite than others! I found that the only thing that worked was the second i felt the teeth sinking was to put the child down very firmly say no and walk away. You may need to just ignore the trembling lip and tears as it is probably quite important that they make the link between biting and them feeling a bit miserable as you dont want your little biter to think its funny getting mummy to react! At 13 months they are too young to be reasoned with or understand that they have hurt you.

whilst my daughter did stop quite quickly what i did notice is that at various points of change ie new child at childminder, starting school and loss of grandfater the biting would make a very fleeting appearance !

[Fuschia]

It's about investigating cause and effect for them... from that point of view, trying not to over-react is a good idea, if you can manage it!

[hanstands]

My son bit for a while, maybe for a about a month, and then the phase passed on its own. I didn't do anything to stop it, it just stopped on its own in time - but, like you, there were a few painful moments and I had to increase my observational skills when he was around others and other babies. He doesn't do it at all now and hasn't for months. It may just pass on its own...try not to worry about it too much for now.

[ratty]

A muzzle?

[Helen GV]

Thanks everyone, this morning it was my toes, though I moved in time..

Hopefully it will pass soon, with some discouragement!

x

[fmay]

people keep telling me to put mustard on my nipples to stop my little monster biting them off when he breastfeeds......so maybe cover yourself in mustard???;-)

[candj]

My youngest daughter used to bite my husband on his ear when he gave her a cuddle and he would yelp in pain. She never bit me at all. It was all about testing boundaries and seeing what she could get away with and didn't last very long (although I was amused by it!).

[SteveT]

One of my sisters was a biter and he had a go at me, the next time he tried I just pushed my clenched fist into his

mouth, which he did not like and never attempted to bite me again,

but he carried on biting other unsuspecting victims.

He should've been thrashed wi''in an inch of his life, and sent to bed wi' out any tea. That'd teach 'em.

[woofmarkthedog]

SteveT Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> One of my sisters was a biter and he had a go at

> me, the next time he tried I just pushed my

> clenched fist into his

>

> mouth, which he did not like and never attempted

> to bite me again,

>

> but he carried on biting other unsuspecting

> victims.

>

> He should've been thrashed wi''in an inch of his

> life, and sent to bed wi' out any tea. That'd

> teach 'em.

______________________________________________________

What correctional facility do you reside is SteveT ?

[iaineasy]

hahaha Ratty you're a classic.:))

[Mrs TP]

Our middle daughter went through a terrible biting / hitting stage at around 18mths. Mainly directed at her older sister and in frustration. We would say a sharp 'no' pick her up, put her in the playpen and leave the room until the screaming and sobs subsided. Didn't take long for the penny to drop.