My Son Is Biting Me!!

First thing, as soon as he bites, say firmly "no biting" and put him down, in his crib or playpen. He should soon get the idea that you don't like it. He'll probably come up with something new though.

Hello H.!

I have the same problem with my 9 1/2 months son.
He is always biting in my shoulder and hands. Don`t know what to do ,or if it`s normal behaviour... tell me please, if you get more information about it. thanks. Jo

Hi H.,
I work with children and see this often. What your child is doing is perfectly normal, however, with 7 teeth, perfectly painful!!! He is trying new things and finding what is soothing for his gums. He probably is laughing because he received a response from you the first time and thinks it was funny. From now on every time he bites you try very hard not to have a response but instead direct his mouth to a teether or other toy that is near by. Biting you isn't going to relieve him as well as a teether will and when he doens't get a response out of you the behavior will be quickly extinguished. Good luck!

I wouldn't worry about it getting out of hand, he's only 9 months. He's still a baby. It's quite a different thing than kids who do it in preschool. I used to put my knuckle in my kids' mouths and say "bite", (playfully) and they would smile and give me a cute little bite. None of them bit anyone in preschool.

I breast fed four children and when they would bite me I just gently pushed the breast into their face and they would have to let go from the bite on my breast to breath. I would only do it maybe a second and they finally got the cue that if they bite this would happen. They stopped biting me and I loved to see them cuddle up to the breast and bond with Mom.
Good Luck, CrystalCherish

My son did this at about the same time. Our pediatrician assured us that it is common at this age and just a phase. Sure enough he stopped doing it after about a month. He's 3 1/2 now and he never bites people. Just keep telling him 'No biting' and wait until he outgrows it.

Is this biting in nursing or just biting anything waiting for your response/attention?
If you are nursing... babies think you are their teething ring...I was told to put my finger between the nipple and the babies mouth break the seal..milk stops.. remove the breast. Repeat each time ..stop nursing if you are being chewed. Hopefully you have introduced many different foods items by now and nursing is mainly a loving cuddle not a food necessity.
If he is biting for attention... as you see your child getting ready to attack /bite pinch the two cheek together between the teeth and he won't be able to bite anything,except his own cheeks if he is stubborn.

I had a toddler biter...she drew blood. Something else was causing her to be violent...she was being harmed by another. Too bad the cause was found out 16 years later.

Watch your little ones closely. she is okay now. Wiser and sadder.

The cuteness will end and when it does and the laughter dies off you need to use a firm NO and put him down on the floor and then bring him a teether or something that is appropriate to chew on. The firm NO and removal of being with mom is enough punishment at this age to end almost anything.
Good luck!

Take your fingers and litly fick him on his check every thime he bits my daughter did the same thing and I would laugh to out of pain and shock but it started to get harder cuz she was biting my boob. She is brestfeeing and would only do it while nursing but a mother and grandmother of my church told me to litly fick her in her check and tell her No NO! NO bit thats not nice.. And if that didn't work to do it one more time then remove them from nursing and tell them if you bit mommy you don't get your titty.. But if your not nursing you just do the same No no no bit thats not nice he may only be 9 months but they do understand us and you have to be stern but easy at the same time. Oh I also got this teether mess bag thing it looks like a pacifer but with a mess bag on the end of it it reuseable and works well you can put frozen fruits and veggies in it and it helps relive the pain and swellin. Thats why they bit cuz they are in pain..God Bless and I hope it all works out..

H.,

I know all my boys went through biting while teething. I found that if I said, "OUCH, that hurt" and acted a little bit more dramatic not letting them have my attention for like 10 seconds while I tended to my bite. Acting a bit more hurt then I was. Then I would say, "don't bite mommy, that hurts" then I would give something they could bite on telling them, "it's ok to bite on this" or "don't bite mommy, bite this" and offer them something else that is ok for them to teeth on. My boys liked cold water on a wash cloth. Sometime I would put just a little bit of crushed ice and twist it up. They sell a variety of teething items at the store, you have to find what he likes. Make sure you show him that one thing he like after he has bitten. Letting him know you are off limits, but the item is all his.

Good luck!
G.

Hi H.!

You've received alot of great advice. He is only 9 months, so it's not too serious, even though it can really hurt.

Laughing is certainly not the best thing, as he will only learn that biting is funny and makes you laugh, so he will learn to do it to entertain you. You don't mean to do that, I'm sure.

He's not too young to be told "No, no, no" in a sweet, serious tone. He will learn to stop if you are consistent with telling him NO. Try to always have teething things around for him, so he has the chance to "bite" for teething purposes. This way, if he's chewed enough on those toys, then you KNOW his bite is for reaction, and NOT teething.

He'll outgrow it soon....hopefully :o)

There is some great advice for the mother who posted "My child is throwing and hitting". You may want to read some of those suggestions, as well.

Good luck!

:o) N.

First, DON'T LAUGH!! I know it's hard but you can't. Say, "Ouch, that hurts mommy." and then hand him something that he can bite (like a teether toy) and put it up to his lips and tell him that he can bite on that. A great way to "discipline" and teach our children, in almost every situation really, is to let them know that the behavior is not exceptable but always offer an alternative. Good luck!!

My daughter starting doing that too when she was 9 months old, I know this might sound crazy, but I bit her back, not to hard, just a little so she can understand that it does hurt a little.

I can relate. My son is 10 mos old, teething & doing the same thing. Two things have helped. A friend recommended that if he bites while nursing, i should pull him in closer to my breast- so his little face is squished against my breast just for a second. He hates it! Now i think he associates it with the biting, so the biting has stopped. Having said that, it was went against every instinct in my body to draw him in closer when he bit me, but it worked! Second, for biting at other times, try to avoid responding with laughter or anger. Just redirect his bite to something appropriate. This has helped me. Though i'm still trying to figure out what to do when he's inthe backpack. My son continues to bite my husband regularly & I'm convinced it is because he laughs every time.

I just had to respond to you about this one. I can totally relate. By the way my name is Patty and I currently live in Cali. My daughter was a bitter. I know its silly now and they are so cute but trust me when they have a full set of teeth and they are still doing it and they chomp down on your leg NOT fun... lol
I had to finally stop her by putting a drop of liquid soap in her mouth because NOTHING else worked. She actually got to the point of getting her frustrations out by biting instead of using her words. She was 1 1/2 at the time almost two.
I encourage you gear him away from this "silly" act since it will only escalate. Kisses, teaching him to use sounds to get your attention, you not laughing, distracting him by giving him a toy... ANYTHING but acknowledging the biting.
Good luck and I hope this helped