Bad Tempered Biter

[Leeny]

My daughter is 1 in about 2 weeks, and shes been a strong willed little monster ever since she started getting a mind of her own. She likes things her way...If i take something off her, its "Ta for mummy" and she willing gives anything to anyone when u ask for it, but as soon as it looks like your not gunna give it back she screams, goes as red as this , throws herself on the floor, and bites herself, me, my feet, her feet, her hands....anything really. Shes been a bitter before she even got teeth ..My question for all you mums out there is when can i start disiplining her and how do i do it?...it sounds horribly mean but the only thing thats worked so far, is biting her back ( not hard ofcourse )..We were smacking her hand at one stage but now she just looks at her hand after the smack and gets on with her bitting buisness....Thanx for reading my long winded post

[Leeny]

Ok i just wana add something because i just read my post and it sounds like i smack or beat my child and rip into her with my teeth lol. I smacked her 3 times after realising that i cant reason with an 11mo and i bit her back after she drew blood once and bruised the top of my boob another time ...just thought i'd clarify that incase someone thought i was condoning beating children. I was beaten as a kid so i dont believe in it...Although i still believe there is a difference between a smack and being beaten..anyhow thanx again

[WeThree]

Hi Leeny
This age group is sooooo frustrating, because there is nothing you can do, no reasoning or discipline will really work at this stage. She is not being 'naughty' and she cant help it, they just get frustrated and are starting to become their own little person.
I found the most effective thing when my ones were little and started doing this sort of thing was just to respond with 'gentle' and demonstrate by stroking their hair or face, and then getting their hand and showing them to do it to me as well. After a few weeks/mths of this, all you have to say is 'gentle' (I draw out the word and say it nice and softly) and 9 times out of 10 they will instantly start stroking whoever it was they were beating up! I also find a cuddle and some other distraction often works well, they are usually pretty easily distracted at that age by another toy or something. Good luck!

[Leeny]

Thanx for helping coopsntilly ...she actually is starting to learn gentle...we have 3 cats and a kitten on the way, plus a dog, so shes learning to stroke the cats instead of batting them in the head, although she still throws the occasional toy...She loves looking at little objects around the house...hopefully she gets out of this phase soon lol

[WeThree]

No probs and dont worry, it really is totally normal. My 17 mths old still has to be reminded 'gentle' several times a day, lol. Although her latest is too pull her brothers hair and whack him on the head, and then when he yells and I turn around to see what is going on she starts stroking his head and saying 'gentle' cheeky buggar

[melbryan]

Sorry to tell you but my nearly two year old is the same way. It does get a little better but they definitely try your patience. I started putting mine in the corner very young he knows that's where he goes when he starts screaming becaus e he is told no. I agree they are so frustrated because they can't do what they want and they don't understand there's anything wrong with it.
Bear with it and soon they'll be 15 and you'll be saying I wish you were two.

[Leeny]

Ah i can just hope that the trying period passes quickly, although i do understand theres always gunna be some issues lol...Im an extremely intolerant person who was never good with kids...DD's begining to change that though...im much better then i was before lol

[melbryan]

Leeny, I hear you sista!!!!! I am very intolerant and expect a certain level of behaviour no matter what the child. I get worked up when I can't gain control.