My son is 13 months old and has recently started spending more time with his father. (every other weekend) He spent Christmas eve with him and bit him 5 times and bit his grandmother once. this has never happened before. He has never bit me or anyone else. he has never bit anyone at daycare. Today he bit me, which has never happened either. I don't know what could cause this recent biting thing. I'm wondering if it could be him lashing out because something is going on with his father or if he just bites. Again, this has never happened before. Any reasons this could be happening.
Well I tried a few different things. One was time out with a stern "no biting it hurts mommy" He stopped biting but after he came home from his fathers he would bite again. I don't know if he is frustrated but he got a spank (not enough to hurt him) and that seemed to work. I will keep all of your suggestions in mind and have a talk with the father to try to sort this out. The bites are few and far between. very random now so it could be a way of him telling me something. Thanks everyone!
My son bit a lot around that age because he was teething. I would immediately put him down and tell him not to bite. When his teeth came in, the problem went away.
My mom has a friend who's granddaughter used to bite everyone. She would touch her finger on a dry bar of soap & touch her granddaughter's tounge after she would bite someone & say 'no bite'. It was just enough flavor to be yucky, but not enough to hurt her. She stopped biting after a few tastes of soap.
Teething could be a cause &/or it could be lashing out. toddlers can not verbalize there feelings so they physically lash out. He could also be trying to take some control over a situation where he feels out of control. Young toddlers (like everyone else) want some control over something in their lives.
Try giving him something to chew on when he looks like he might bite. Tell him 'no bite' & give him the teething toy, (before or after biting). Don't elaborate on your words, as a young toddler can not remember a lot of words at one time.
We used teething tables from Walgreens for our youngest & they seemed to work & he liked them.
God Bless!
i know this sounds a little harsh and old school, but all of my 4 kids went through this and we bit them back. NOT hard but enough to show them that it hurts other people. it worked with them. i hope you find a solution!
Biting is your childs way of communicating when frustrated. All children make noises that their mommy understands. Eh may mean kitty. Ahhh may mean milk. When he stays with someone that can't understand him, he becomes frustrated and bites. He needs to be given the words that he is wanting when he bites and he needs to be put into a safe space each time he does it until he stops. It will take a while for him to connect the spot with the action, as well as learning the words he needs to be saying in place of biting. He needs to learn ASAP that biting is not an acceptable way to communicate. Also, I highly recommend doing baby sign language with him. If he learns just 3 basic signs, he can communicate most of his needs. The sign for milk is squeezing your hand like milking a cow. If his father and grandmother would learn just that sign, it will eliminate a lot of frustration.
He's just going through a phase. Most kids will bite at some time. When our son went through this we always firmly told him no. Be consistent and firm and it will pass w/ in a couple of weeks. Don't be so quick to assume that it's his father causing this. Kids are always going to do something they've never done before, that doesn't mean they are lashing out, they're just experimenting. For your kids sake, I'm glad he's spending more time w/ his father.
If he is teething it will cause toddlers to bite, they are trying out the new teeth, when he bites tell him NO in a stern voice and say "Dont bite that hurts mommy" and give him a teething toy to chew on. Be consistent and let others know that care for him in a day what to do when he bites.
I would think its his way of acting out because he's stressed in some way (unfamiliar faces, places, or just plain that you are not there and you are otherwise 99% of his life)Try having something be a "constant" like a lovie of some kind-a blanket, a hat, teddy bear, etc. My daughter has her "blue blankie" that is soft and she's had since birth (it was part of her bassinet bed set) and she can fall asleep anywhere with that thing.
I agree with the teething...and with the idea of being consistent.... my daughter (mother of the most precious 1 year old grandson on the planet!!!) has certain phrases that she uses with Kieran..."Gentle Touches" "That hurts Mommy", things like that. Be calm...be consistent...and be firm...you can get this under control.
I really think its normal. With the new teeth and oral sensations that come with them, its normal for a little one to have an urge to bite. Be consistent and tell him its not ok to bite. I havent had the nerve to do this (was struggling with my daughter biting) but my mom told me that my sister was a terrible biter when she was a toddler. Mom bit her back (not to hurt her) to shock her and let her feel it so she knew that she was hurting people when she bit. Let me tell you, my sister never bit again!!! I on the other hand, made my daughter sit in time out or would pop her mouth when she bit (not hard). We dont have many problems now. I think its just an urge. Hope this helps!
A lot of kids this age bite. It becomes an issue if you dont stop it. They have no understanding of the power in a bite, if they bite hard enough they can break the skin and cause bleeding.
You have to stop this now!!
S.,
My 2 1/2 year old started biting six months ago. He started biting as a form of affection. He would be hugging you, and as an attempt to kiss you and take a chunck out of your shoulder. It then progressed to lashing out at his siblings. So let me just say we have tried everything, time-outs, showing him "nice touches", biting back, etc. The thing that we have started doing in the last month, and is really helping is vinegar. Not a lot, you put it on your finger and in their mouth. It isn't poison, but it tastes terrible straight. We simply call it "Yuck". He hates it. It has really slowed down the biting, and it works for spitting too. Good luck with your little guy, I have three kids, and my youngest is the first to be a biter.
I second the teething thing. My daughter was younger but she did go through the biting stage. I would say say was like 8 months old. She thought it was hilarious and would crack up laughing when I would freak out in pain. She didnt understand. She thought Mommy was funny!
