Biting - Riverview, FL

With my daughter, this stage only lasted about a few months, and was at the same age. After that, it went to hitting, then scratching, and then it all stopped. I think it's an empowerment thing. At 15 months she may not really have the "I shouldn't do THIS because THAT will happen" concept. Just keep up with the "don't bite" message. You may also want to try telling her if she doesn't stop they won't let her back in daycare.

Biting is an extremely contagious behavior. Modeling or copying the actions of others is an important and powerful way for toddlers to learn. Unfortunately, sometimes the toddlers learn negative behaviors like biting through experiences with other toddlers. Any adult who has spent much time with a group of toddlers can testify to the fact that biting is more contagious than the common cold.

Some children bite when they are tired or hungry.Check if there is a pattern of when your child bites. I know my daughter bites only when she feels threatened or is somehow needing to be in "defense mode". For example when someone trys to take a toy she is playing with. Knowing why your daughter bites can help figure out how to stop the biting or at least avoid it. Most daycare should understand kids at this age cant communicate so biting happens. My daycare provider told me as long as the child isnt breaking skin you shouldnt worry too much.

I saw a couple suggest biting her back... DO NOT DO THIS!!! It does not teach her to not bite, it teaches her that "i am bigger and can hurt you" At the age your daughter is, she will not understand thats why you bit her. What she will see is that the person she trusts the most hurt her.

On that note, I have a biter too...He is now 2 1/2. Biting is actually NORMAL behavior. Kids tend to do it for the same reasons others hit, pull hair, push, and the like. I would ask if someone can shadow your daughter to find the reasons and to try to stop it before it happens. When she does this, give her a time out right away! Ignore the yelling and crying, and after a minute, go back and do what some of the others have told you... Make a song of teeth are not for biting...I like the teeth are for food, not friends...I read a book called "Teeth are not for Biting" to my son...It helps a little...Mine mostly will only do it when he is crowded and feels threatened. This will stop when they learn how to talk and tell people what they are feeling. You can encourage her to use her words..Tell her "no biting! we say stop! or go!" As hard as it is, do not yell at her...she is more apt to listen to you when you are calm and talk in a soft voice. Tell her "I understand ** came too close to you, lets say go when that happens" When you see her bit another child, tend to the bitten child first! Say "no biting!" as you pass your child and dote on the other one. this does effect her more than you would think...when you know everything is ok, then go to her, tell her "no biting" again, and make her say Im sorry to the other kid. Even tho she can not say it herself, she may hug the child (What my son does) or just look at you, and you tell the child "** is sorry she bit you." Most of this advice I got from professionals and my pediatrician. You may want to talk to yours too...I have tried most everything under the sun..and the most common advice I got was simply a "They have to grow out of it"

On your end, I know its so hard...i have broken down in tears because of this. He and I both have lost many potential friends due to the biting, and IT HAS NOTHING to do with you as a parent!! Do not let anyone tell you otherwise!

Has anything changed recently in your home? new routine? new baby? recently return to work? these all can be triggers...

Here is a good article: http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/refcap/preschooler/pbe...

H., this will all depend on your limits with your child. I am a mother of two (5 & 1)and have fortunately never had a biting problem. But my friend did with both of her children and had the perfect remedy. Of course children at 1 are head strong and tend to do as they please because the little "no, no's" and one minute time outs seem to bounce right off of them. So my friend was given the idea (I believe from her grandmother- go figure!) of camphopheneke(I don't think I spelled it right)- it is the stuff you use for canker sores in your mouth. If you have ever tried it you know it is completely harmless but tastes absolutely horrible. It also numbs their mouth which for some reason kids hate. My friend carried this stuff religiously with her and every single time her children would bite, she would rub a good dab of that in their mouth and tell them that it was bad. They both were broke of that real quick. Again, this would come down to your personal preference, but it definately harmlessly worked on both of her children. Hope this helps!

There is a really great baby book called NO BITING! by Karen Katz that seemed to help my little boy. He was actually asked to leave his daycare at 19 months because the problem got so bad. We have tried it ALL, and at 22 months it is still a problem, even though it's not as bad as it was. For some reason, everytime we read that book together he has several good days in a row where he doesn't bite.
He is in a new daycare now, just started 3 weeks ago. Things are going very well. One major difference is the class ratio. He is one of 6 kids in the class. His other class had 12. I think he just does better in a smaller crowd. Don't know if that's an option for you at all.
Good luck and best wishes.

I agree totally with Sandra.

I have a 16 month old. She tried biting a few months ago. I did the same thing - not hard enough to hurt but enough for her to know it doesnt feel nice.

She bite twice - and never again. This does NOT say "i am bigger and can hurt you" because you dont do it to hurt them. This shows it is unpleasant to feel and works on empathy.

My son did the same thing. My husband and I finally had to get him to try and bit my husband and the second he did we made him bite dial soap. He has not bitten since.We had tried everything from biting him back to putting alum on this tounge which is very bitter and nothing worked except the soap. I know it is hard to do to a child so young but they have to learn that if they are bad they will be punished..You can try it and see if it works for you.

Hi H., My 18 Month old is going through a biting phase also. They do that when they are frusterated or want attention. The daycare provider told me to bop him on the mouth (not hard, but enough to get his attention) and tell him no bitting, that has worked, becuase he does not bite much anymore. Good luck

My daughter started to bite at about 1 and a half and I thumped her in the mouth not too hard of course but I did it the seciond she bit and she knew what it was for I only did this about a few times over a week and she stopped! was never an issue after that I think the thumping hurt her feelings cause up until then I had never spanked her or anything so it really worked good luck

yeah mine bit from the time she got her first tooth. she bit her sister and really there wasn't nothing we could do except time out every time she did it. eventually she stopped. and she did stop around 22 months

hey my son use to bite all the time and i watch other kids so this was big problem. My son was about the same age when he started I did all the talking to him then i relized that was not working so i stared tim out i would put him behind me (because he was to young to be in a time out chair or his room byhim self) that worked for awhile then one day he bite me and unforcently i reacted negativally and bit him back. However it worked he nver bit again. I would try the time out he is 15 monyhs so not even a minute should do Good luck here for ya S. R

My son also had a biting issue at about 18months..He just turned 4 yesterday and he still will tell you...TEETH ARE FOR FOOD AND NOT FOR FRIENDS!!!!! We started playing a game with it..and would kinda sing it..Teeth are for food and not for friends..LALALALA..and when he would bite I would say what are teeth for and he would start to say it and then slowly but surely would start to figure it out..But now I have a friend with a 2 year old daughter who is starting the biting thing, and my son will say..NONO Teeth are for food not for friends...And she is already starting to catch on..But it is normal and all kids go through it, so Grin and bear it and soon it will pass, and she'll be on to the next thing, like hitting,spitting, and my favorite talking back.. Good Luck from a Mom with 4..(13,11,6,and 4 years old)..P. in Palmetto

I know this may sound terrible, but if she bites you...bite her back. Not hard enough to break skin..but enough to let her know it HURTS. My daughter started biting a little later than yours, but the first time she ever did it, she broke my skin...I told her it hurt and showed her that it hurts her too. She hasn't done it since.