Biting - any experince or advice?

[samsausage]

Hi Ladies,

I'm throwing this out there on behalf of a friend who's 19mo DD has just started biting.

The behaviour is directed at unfamiliar children, usually after a scuffle over a toy/play equipment. So far it's never been directed at children she sees regularly and never at her younger sibling.

My friend is vigilant in supervising her playing with other children but unfortunately she isn't able to stop every incident. She immediately intervenes when it happens, getting down to her daughters level and firmly explaining that it's not acceptable behaviour.

As you can imagine it's distressing for my friend and the other child/parents involved. Other than the biting she's a bubbly, outgoing, friendly child who seems to genuinely enjoy the company of other children.

Any advice or experiences with this is appreciated,

Cheers

[Chunkydunks]

Does your friend pull her DD away from the play situation too?? My niece when through a biting stage and my bro found the best thing to do was to pull her right away from everything and make her sit and watch the other kids play for a bit. Made her realise that there was an immediate punishment and that it was no fun just sitting and watching.

[samsausage]

Does your friend pull her DD away from the play situation too?? My niece when through a biting stage and my bro found the best thing to do was to pull her right away from everything and make her sit and watch the other kids play for a bit. Made her realise that there was an immediate punishment and that it was no fun just sitting and watching

Thanks for the reply, initially she didn't remove her but now she does. Do you know how long the biting lasted with your niece?

[Chunkydunks]

About 2 weeks. They didn't know how to deal with it t fist but once they started it didn't take her long to realise.

[samsausage]

Ah that's encouraging, Cheers :)

[mum2bubba]

Skye is almost 17 months and she bites sometimes too. She bites me mostly and on occasions has bitten Grant and has bit Hayley once.

Its usually if she gets frusterated or if she can't have something or can't do something (though when she bit Hayley on the nose a few months ago she went to kiss her and it changed into a bite)

If she is touching something she shouldn't and I grab her hand and try and move her away or take something off her she shouldn't have then she'll bite (not always though) I tell her "don't bite" then she throws and tantrum and stamps her feet or sometimes tries to bite again. I put her in her portacot with no toys for about a minute but I'm not sure if she understands (I tell her why shes in there and I tell her it hurts blah, blah, blah) the whole thing is new to me too as Hayley wasn't like that as a baby/toddler.

[Kirstlea]

My ds started biting about 2 months ago (20mths) and we have realised that its more associated with him teething. His 2yr old molars are trying to come through.

Of course he has also bitten out of fustration but he learnt the lesson with that very quickly. Time out in his room and a talking to and making him show his sister that he is sorry seemed to curb that side of it. (He can't say the word yet so gives her a cuddle and kiss when he is sorry)

But with the teething that is another issue and I have learnt to tell when his mouth is bothering him. He his constantly biting on toys and has a rash on his chin from all the drool so thats a sure sign that hes not happy. Even when he bites in this situation I still put him in time out and explain that its not nice etc but I don't rouse on him as hard. I also explain to his sister why he is so bad at the moment so she knows to steer clear of his mouth.

I know it doesn't solve everything but they all go through this stage some worse than others.

We had a really bad week a few weeks ago and then all of sudden it all stopped so I was thinking great its finally over but no I was wrong. Today he has been agitated and chewing on his fingers or anything else he lay his hands on and drooling again. Then this evening he bit his sister:hair: So off to time out and a stern talking to and after he had said sorry to her I then gave him some nurofen.

Thankfully he is fast asleep without too many problems tonight and poor dd is also asleep with an ice pack on her hand.

Incidently I had best go and take that off.

[samsausage]

Thanks so much for the replies ladies, I'll pass it all on, I think it will help to know that a lot of toddlers seem to go through this.


Thankfully he is fast asleep without too many problems tonight and poor dd is also asleep with an ice pack on her hand

Poor wee thing, I hope the biting stops soon, sounds like you're doing a great job with it.