A Biting 11 Month Old

Well, Mom amd Dad. When we were kids and we bit someone, we got bit back to know the feeling. It still worked on my grandkids. He needs to know what it feels like. Trust me, he won't like it. Bit him as hard as he bit you and I'll bet my life he'll stop. They said this could get you in trouble with child and family, but are they to know what you do behind closed doors. They are so weird these days and forget what they got as kids. I'm not saying to bite his dam head off, just dshow him the feeling
Queen

After 4 kids that all liked to bite, I have read a few books on this and there are so many ideas and methods.
One of the best is to not reward his behavior by giving a reaction. Nothing positive, nothing negative. Just pull him away and set him down. He is probably communicating with you. He wants something when he does this. He is probably not yet speaking,so telling him to use his words wont work. The only thing that ever really worked for me is the wrong way. Bite them back. Give no response or noise, just gently bite him back. Not hard enough to leave marks, just enough that he knows it does not feel good.

Is he a breast fed baby? If he is he may just be asking to be fed, in which case do not feed him for biting.

Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you are consistent with it and give no rewards!

I hope this helps, if not sorry! You can contact me at ____@____.com if you have any other questions!

I recently asked a child psychologist this same question. he said that biting back can actually get you in trouble by child protective services, so that's not a good option, but that a LOUD and SHARP, "NO!" can alarm the child enough each time they do it, that after a little bit, it should stop. Remember, any habit takes about 3 days for a baby to break, so you may be hurting his feelings for a few days, and then it will be better!
Good luck!

when my daughter was 8mos she did the same thing all i did was look her in the eye and tell her NO in a strong firm voice but i didn't look away i let her do that after that she only did it once but by then she was old enough to be put in the timeout chair i hope this advice works gl 2 u

Calmly tell him no biting and place him in a play pen or another room for a few minutes so he learns that biting means he can't stay in the room with you.

My kids attempted this only with nursing. Only one of them actually tried it once on a shoulder. We did a quick tap (not enough to hurt but to get their attention and likely startle them) on the nose/mouth and said a firm no bite. It only took about 4 tries for my most stubborn child. Good luck!

I just want to add that I agree with one of the other posts on teaching communication. We used sign language as well as say the words. Although it was not appropriate when our kids bit the few times they did because they didn't do it out of meaness or to get attention....thus the reason we used the firm finger tap on the mouth.

B. :)

I know he may seem a little young but if he bites tell him NO in a very stern voice and put him in his crib with no toys for a minute or two and repeat it every time he does it! I know it sounds silly but if you miss even one time it is like starting all over. This is what I did with my first daughter and it worked well then when she hit 2 she started biting again and we bit her back (not hard) but it hurt her feelings and she figured it out~ it only took twice.

Hope this helps
M.

I also have an 11-1/2 month old and I would DEFINITELY not bite him back - even lightly - at this young of an age. He won't understand it at this age (at least mine wouldn't).

I would just tell him "no" firmly over and over 'til he gets it.

My son does it every now and again, but I'm nearly positive it's because he's interested in what his new-ish teeth can do. He does the same thing with inanimate objects as well.

As I have read the other mother's reponses...I don't agree with hitting your little one in the lips at all....I would just calmly say no biting and then redirect your son to something positive. It worked for me and now my 19 month old son doesn't bite!

Good Luck sweetie!

I would agree with the biting back if he was like 3 but at this young of an age they will not understand. Trust me I did it with my daughter and it encouraged her. It is like telling them not to hit and spanking them. It does not make sense. Be firm with your child and tell them no. You could put them in their crib for a minute and then talk to them about it. Again they wont understand but they will start picking up on the fact that you don't like it. They will know by your tone of voice.

I am a mother of 3 great boys and I had this problem with my youngest who is now 21 months. He primarily would only bite me for some reason, and it was usually out of the blue. Honestly, for an 11 month old you can only tell him no-no and say that it hurts mommy or daddy. I believe he will eventually grow out of it-my son did anyway. It probably lasted about 3 or 4 months, but it did stop. Also, is he teething? That might have something to do with it as well. Anyway, I'm sure he will be fine, but I understand your concern. If this continues into pre-school, then I would definitely seek a Dr's opinion.

My 2 1/2 year old daughter had a problem with biting. But after biting her back a few times, she got the point. Just bite him back.

What do you do now about this problem? I agree with something that was said below, that hurts us. If that does not work you might try when he does it just sitting him down somewhere for a few minutes and not holding him telling him no or a short explanation of why. Maybe he will get the hint.

Good Luck :)

This is going to sound bad, but bite him back. You need to show him that biting hurts. If he feels the effects of what being bitten feels like, that should make him stop biting.

I agree with Mary...whether it be biting, hair pulling, pinching...it only took once when I did it back to my kids, to let them know they didn't want any more of that!! They have to know how it feels to realize what they are doing to another and that it hurts. Might be oldschool, but it works. :)

A simple "biting hurts mommy" while putting him out of biting range is probably your best long term bet. It's a normal behaviour at this age. He just doens't know yet that it hurts or that there are better ways to get your attention. I'd also suggest looking into teaching him baby signs if you haven't. That curbed so much of the normal frustrated behaviour that went along with not being able to communicate what our son wanted. When they have a way to tell you what they want, it minimizes telling you in inappropriate ways.