My son just turned one a few weeks ago, and has been biting for the past month now. He bit my husband and my husband bit him back and my son no longer bites him anymore, only me! I have tried saying, "No Bite!" I have tried biting him back (not to hard), Ive tried tapping him on the hand and telling him,"no bite!" and I have also tried putting him down and not giving him attention, nothing seems to work! I tell him "no, dont bite! That hurts mommy!" in a stern voice and he laughs at me... Please help! He is now in daycare and has NOT biten another child yet (im scared he may) how can I make him stop?!
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I tried out the lemon juice and so far so good! :D
Great book: Teeth are NOT for Biting.
Also, I used to pop (gently) my kids in the mouth BEFORE they bit, like as they were getting ready to (just like you'd tap a dog on his snout)... one time, my daughter bit me HARD when she was about a year old, didn't even see it coming... not my proudest mommy moment, but I bit her back. Not very hard, but hard enough to get the point across: IT HURTS! She never did it again.
My pediatrician had me squirt a little lemon/lime juice in my daughter's mouth when she bit me. As long as you are consistent every time he bites, it should stop after a few times of this. It worked for us, and I have also heard of people using vinegar on the tongue. Whatever works best, but these are safe for little ones!
Keep doing what you've been doing in addition to putting him in his room/crib when he bites. If you can catch him just before he starts, that would be better. Also, please let the care provider know what he's been doing. She may be able to help.
One mother on this site said she smacks her kid in the mouth for biting, but turned her care provider in for doing the "I'm going to bite you so you know how it feels" method. I do not recommend smacking a child in the mouth. Just make sure you are clear with your care provider what is acceptable correction if your child bits another child.
Blessings.....
Tap him on the lips, kind of hard. Not hard as to hurt him, of course. You will see a look of surprise (that mommy did this) and lots of tears and wailing. You will then tell him that biting hurts and he should never do it. It usually takes only once, and then never again. Good luck
