He Bit Me!!!

If he is behind in speech, go see a Speech Language Pathologist to see if is is really behind to the point of needing help. Little people do not communicate well without language, and teeth are the most empowering force they have! If he needs help with language, his behavior will continue. If it's really speech, sign language will only delay the inevitable need for talking, so I'd suggest a screening.

As for time outs, they aren't intended for a discipline measure, but instead to help a child regain control. Timeouts for a baby that age won't work, unless the time out is in your arms. "No biting. That hurts mama. Show mama love" then hug him. Make him "do" what is kind if he acts aggressively. Teaching him to fix it will go a lot farther than just punishing him. Good luck figuring out your plan...hopefully he won't bite again!

Both of my kids have bit me...exactly once each. They were both older than your child, so this may not work, but kids bite out of frustration and do not realize that it can really really hurt. When my kids bit me, I bit them back (I know some of you out there are going to think that I am a terrible mother oh, well). It wasnt hard enough to truely hurt, but just enought to give them the idea that biting hurts.

Let me stress that this may not work for everyone or every situation. It is just what worked for me. My daughter is one of those kids that really understands when you put her in someone else's shoes, which is probably why it worked for us.

I can though tell you that the person who recommended the Signing Time videos is dead on. I stumbled upon them one day in the mall and bought one (I have a back ground in ASL) and my kids absolutly love them. The woman who makes them started after she discovered her daughter is deaf. They are great, and I would recommend them to anyone who has a problem with speach or wants to learn. www.signingtime.com

I hope you find something that works for you!

I would suggest teaching him sign language. Toddlers that haven't developed verbal skills are actually quite adept at using signs to express themselves. There are a lot of books and online resources if you google 'baby sign language.'

The signs are often very intuitive and easy to teach - especially at 18 months. It will also help his frustration level because you can validate what he's feeling by teaching him to express 'angry', 'hurt', and 'ouch' in signs rather than acting out negatively.

Good luck!

I don't agree with sign language this late as he needs to learn to use words and will be dependent on signs and can be delayed longer in speaking correctly. Any 18 mos old isn't overly verbal. Even if he gets up from time out you don't say a word and continue to put him back there. Don't let him control you.
You do put him in time out, firmly say "you do not bite".
When my daughter did this I very lightly would tap her on the lips and say "no biting!", that was enough after a few times for that to stop. You need to set boundaries now! He isn't to tear up books, you were right in taking it away from him and say "you do not tear up books, we be nice to books". Then when he went to bite you that is time to get serious!!!! He understands just fine and with or without speech needs consequences. If he won't go in a corner, put him in a play pen, but really MAKING him sit in time out is crucial. Do not hold him there as that will piss him off worse, but continue to set him in time out and say "time out for biting mommy". If he ever does that again, pretend to cry, he needs to understand he hurt you! That is usally a big deal breaker for kids as he is mad but doesn't want to hurt you, so pretend to cry and say "no biting you hurt mommy!!" and set him in time out again. Giving him clear boundaries now will save you later. If he bites another child he could really hurt them!

First-He knows exactly what "no biting" means! Sounds like you handled it well. First Make sure if he gets out of the chair keep putting him back in it until he knows you are serious that he is to stay in it until YOU tell him to get up--just say "you are in time out". The first time you have a time out is CRITICAL to teach them YOU are in charge of the results of it NOT HIM. Then be sure to tell him why he was there in simple terms "you got a time out for biting. I love you." then hug him. He is only 18 months but he can already understand behavior and consequence.

When a child bites at a young age it is out of frustration. You did well to stop immediately and just say "NO BITING!" and putting him in time out. It shows he will not get what he wants with that behavior--he will just get a consequence. He may not do it again given that you reacted that way.

I think a combination of sign language & verbal skills would work well. It worked really well for my 18 month old. The best DVDs I've found are called "Signing Time". Episodes are also aired on PBS, or you can find them at the library. You also might want to check the possibility of him needing tubes in his ears. That is one of the most common reasons for speach delay...they don't hear the sounds quite right, and it makes it hard for them to immitate your speach pattern. It made a world of difference for my little guy. I think you still need to let him know what the rules are...but just some suggestions.

It's interesting you mentioned he's behind in speech. My little guy is behind in speech and is a biter. I wonder if there's a connection. Usually our son does it when he's being held and is upset. We flick his cheek. I did it when he was nursing and bit and it seems to be almost as successful now. We also put him down until he can be nice, still upset and crying is okay. Biting is not. As far as sign language goes for the speech, it was great for our first, but this little one has little or no use for it. We just had him evaluated, and the therapist did feel he had benefitted from the exposure as it does build the speech part of the brain even though outgo is still an issue. GL Both issues are frustrating, both for you and him. I think the biting only lasted about 6 weeks with consistent flicking. It didn't have to be very hard, just a slight sting.

He is a little young for a time out to have any real meaning to him, I would simply say NO biting it hurts mommy, and move him aways from you, my 18 month old walked up to me a couple of days ago and just bit me out of the blue, what a surprise and boy did his little teeth hurt :). I did actually laugh at first cause I was so surprised. He has only bit me 2 more times since then, patients with him as he discovers the wonders of what he can do. He didn't really mean to hurt you he was only trying to show his frustration, most 18 month olds have VERY limited language skills so at times they will bite, hit, push and pinch just remind him that it isn't ok and it hurts, they do get the message.

Your child reacted out of frustration. You said he is behind in language. The next time he needs discipline try to take the item (in this case, the book) away. Holding it above his reach is a frustration. Take it, put it away and remind him that books (or whatever) is a privelege and by ruining the item he will no longer have it. Don't talk baby talk, use language for him to understand but in a calm and direct way.

Frustration will soon become something he may be able to deal with better but sincerely biting is just a new way to approach a problem. It will pass if you take control of the situation.

G. Johnson
https://homemadegourmet.com/GINNY14752
Take Control of your life and your kitchen!