9 Month Old Boy Won't Stop Biting Everything (Including Us!)

Hi T.,

One thing is very important during this difficult time. As upsetting as it is, especially when it hurts, the more you react to his behavior, the more he will do it. He is learning a lot of cause & effect... "Oh, when I bite, mommy yells" or "When I do this, it makes mommy sad". He's not trying to hurt you, he's trying to see if it will happen every time. Next time it happens, give a stern but quick "No, biting is not nice" and distract him with something else. He will bore of this quickly if there aren't any reactions, or if the only reaction is your boredom. Drawing blood from mommy and daddy is unacceptable... if you can't get this to stop, I would certainly mention to his doctor for suggestions. Good luck, I'm sure this will pass! K.

T.:
It may sound strange, but I used a squirt of lemon juice in the mouth after bites. I just kept the plastic Real-Lemon (you can buy in grocery stores) in the refrigerator, and when biting happened, would head to the refrigerator. This worked for me. However, another mom said that her daughter began to LIKE the taste of the lemon, and it turned out to NOT be associated with unpleasantries! Just a suggestion....
also, there's a great board book called "Teeth Are Not For Biting" by Elizabeth Verdick that you could find on Amazon.com. Your son may be a little young for it, but it is sturdy, has great pictures, and reinforces the "NO BITING!" Another available at Amazon is No Biting by Karen Katz.

Good Luck!
S. Foraker

I wouldn't recommend physical punishment or anything that causes pain etc. it sounds painful though (drawing blood!!)

I have an 8 month old, she hasn't drawn blood but her little 2 bottom teetch do hurt when she bites.

I would definitly not react tooo much to it (although if I was bleeding I would probably yelp in pain!). I think he is just trying everything out. I would say "no" and distract him, put him on the floor (in a safe area, obviously, our whole living room is the babies room now LOL) to take him away from the stimulis (your arm!)

Do you find any triggers to biting (when he is tired, cranky, etc.)?

Our son did that too.. as well as pull hair. SO I became a great anticipator of the bad behavior and would prevent him from even getting near me with his teeth or fists getting into my hair. I would block his hands from grabbing (as well as my glasses) and block his mouth by holding him looking out so he could not bite me. Also try and grab something he can chew on (-shove it in) instead of your arm or shoulder..
If he persisted... I would put him down.
"Teeth are for food." a well heard phrase during that time.. Just be consistent about not letting him get to the angle where he can hurt you and he will grow out of it in time.
(((hugs)))

My son went through a stage like that. We used to just be really consistant with telling him no and we would also put him down and ignore him for a few seconds. My husband use to take his finger and just put it under our sons nose and he would stop. Our son no longer bites but when he gets real mad he will sometimes seem like he is going to bite but than stops as if he knows what he is doing is wrong. Good luck.