My 7 month DD has her 2 bottom teeth. I have been trying to discourage her from using them on people. I know that she is only a baby, and I can't expect her to KNOW these things... but I do discourage (stop her from biting, and tell her no biting. I do NOT punish her when she does...) the behavior. BUT.... my other kids think it's sooo funny and cute when she bites them, that they have turned it into a game. (They are 9, 7,6, and 4) They are old enough to know better... but every time I think I have it through their head NOT to stick their fingers in her mouth, I walk in on them. The game is to put finger in baby's mouth, then when she bites they pull out, playful shriek, and 'Oh she's biting me! The baby is biting me'... tickle and re-insert finger. The baby thinks it's hilarious and does that 'I can't breathe any more' laugh whenever they do it. It's hard to yell at them, because it really is super cute... but not a habit I want the baby getting into!
ETA... Sorry. I don't blame the baby... obviously she is going to do what she is taught... I guess my question would be 'what can I do to stop the older kids from encouraging the baby to bite?' Obviously what I have been doing isn't working. (so far, I have tried talking to them about WHY they shouldn't do it... Then I started time-outs.... Then they lost a favored toy....
I would probably let it go. If I wasn't breastfeeding her. As it is, she bites me because she thinks it's a fun game. She doesn't do it as much as she used to because I pull her off for 15 minutes every time she bites me... but every once in a while she forgets that she's not supposed to. I figure it would be easier all around if she's taught not to bite at all.
I dont think the problem is the baby, I think the problem is the older kids. You need to discipline them when they do it, no matter how adorable it is, or the baby will keep doing it.
Maybe you could limit their time with the baby? 'If you can't follow the rules when playing with baby, you can't play with baby at all.'
I agree with Leslie as long as their hands are clean and they're not sick or germy than let that baby bite them hard and they'll stop but if any of your kids have anger issues then no way cause you don't want them getting mad at the baby when the baby does bite down too hard and kids can react without thinking so I dunno. Have a family meeting and don't yell at your kids but explain to them why this is bad and that they should be helping their little sibling to grow not hurting her development. Good Luck
Hi M.,
I have a completely different take on this one - I would say as long as their hands are clean - let the baby bite them. As she grows and develops more jaw strength then d hurts them - they will stop playing this game.
:)
