How have you had success in stopping your child from biting? My 2 year old bites when he's frusterated (i.e. someone takes away his toy). I've tried reading him books and giving him other options (use your words, give kisses) but it's still an issue. Thank you in advance for any advice.
An eyedropper full of white vinegar immediately after he bites. It won't hurt him, just give him an immediate association between biting and a very unpleasant taste/experience. I used it on my son (now 16) when he started daycare at 8 months. He stopped bitting in one day.
Good Luck
T.
I was going to ask the same question. My 18 month old just started to bite out of frustration and I'm not sure what to do. I thought things were getting better and then he bit two children at daycare today. I hate this and what him to stop. I don't think I have any advice for you but I wanted you to know you are not alone. Thanks for posting the question. Good luck If you find something that works let me know
I'm so sorry you are going through this. My best friends daughter was a bad biter for a long time and I know how it makes a mom feel. I would keep a really close eye on your son and try to stop it before it happens. You will quickly learn what things trigger it and step in. I've also heard time outs work for it (like the previous post said).
One that I have heard, but never tired was to bite them back. I'm don't know if I agree with it or not, but I'm just putting it out there.
My daughter has bite me about 5 times and it's hard to know what to do.
Best of luck,
C.
I feel for you! I think that younger siblings tend to bite more than our first. My 2 year old is also biting. I think that talking with him, removing the child from the situation is very important, aka time out. Also is important is to talk with the child who is taking away the toy or instigating the biting as well as a possible time out. This has cut back on some of the biting and hitting. Good luck!
Hi M.,
I have 3 thoughts.
1. Try reading "Teeth Are Not for Biting" everyday. It's an amazing board book (as is the entire series).
2. Try to focus your attention on the person who was bitten. We've done that for hitting and it's worked wonders, "oh no, Finn! We don't hit our friends! They don't feel safe when you hit them." then completely turn your attention to whomever was bitten and talk about how it hurts and ask if they are okay and encourage your son to partake in the consoling but don't force an apology. You can use the words though so he can create an association, "I'm sorry that happened Jacob". Easy as that.
3. Give him something he CAN bite. We have a game where we point to things we cannot bite or hit then go through the things it is okay to bite and/or hit. If you see him going for a bite, chime in with "uh oh, is mommy for biting? Nooooo..." and let him move onto the okay to bite things.
My personal opinion is that you should not bite them back. You are leading by example. They know it hurts by this age and you cannot say it is never okay to bite but bite yourself. While it is nice to have an instant solution it's better to work through the process and it will stick that way. 2 year olds are creating links and associations like mad and the process can be lengthy but you will be rewarded by only having to do it once. But like I said, my personal opinion based on my personal experience. And my sister's opinion - a preschool teacher.
Best of luck to you!
T.
HI M.,
Lots of toddlers bite for different reasons. Sometimes it's out of frustration, social contact, defensiveness, stress...Maybe she gets overstimulated and is a child who is easily frustrated. Try to keep a closer eye on things to intervene before frustration levels rise and talk to her in the moment about how to use words to express what she needs. My son occasionally bites when he is tired or hungry and is having trouble changing from one activity to another. I think that he's overwhelmed and can't control his emotions.
From what I have read kids bite because they are out of control and that's scary for them. So what you can to is intervene quickly, calmly and firmly. Reassure both the child and the victim and if possible keep both children by your side while you inspect and wash the bitten area with warm soapy water. This way you demonstrating the consequences and seriousness of the behavior. Then make sure the biting cannot be allowed and that you will stop it every time. A child who is out of control and frightened by her own behavior needs to know that adults will help take control until they are able to control themselves.
Encourage, but don't force, the child to comfort the victim with words, hugs or pats. Demonstrate that gentleness and kindness are expected.
Asses what less to the biting and teach alternative actions. Give your daughter words she can use to ask to have a toy returned such as, " Can I have that next" or Is it my turn now?"
Hope this helps!! Good luck!
Hello,
My 2 year old had been biting mostly me since she was very little... I had finally had it when she decided while pretending to be a kitty to bite me on my butt (I can laugh about it now but it hurt)... I put her in her room to "think about it" and she could only come out when she was ready to say sorry... then I didn't let her have any juice (her favorite thing) for the rest of the day. Now... there is another trick that I have discovered since then that seems to work with my daughter when she does something I don't want her to do (like get up a million times after I put her in bed) I tell her that if she bites then she has to eat a greenbean (her least favorite thing) that seems to have helped with the bad behavior as well.
Good Luck!
I went through a biting phase with my older daughter.
After we'd already talked about why it's wrong to bite, and she understood that she wasn't supposed to do it, she was still doing it. What worked best was "shadowing". Stay very nearby her and when you think she may be about to bite, intervene and reinforce that we don't bite, and what our other options are. About a week of intervention seemed to do the trick, though it is exhausting.
Hi M.,
Well.......after I tried everything (to no avail) with my 2 yr old son, I one day, out of frustration, resorted to "biting back".
Of course it was a "gentle bite", but I had to GRAB his attention to the matter that had been going on for months!
I have to say....it worked! After my initial "bite", if he bit me, or someone else, I asked him if he wanted me to bite him back....he would say, "NO, it hurt!". Then it was my opportunity to say, "Well, you are hurting mommy when you bite, you need to stop biting me and use your words to tell me how you feel instead"......after about a dozen more instances, mixed with LOTS of mommy patience and explaining.....he stopped biting completely.
Again, I used it as a last resort. Am I proud to say it? Nope, but it worked, and I know I didn't hurt him as bad as he hurt me, only his feelings.
~N. :O)
M.,
When he bites tell him firmly NO Biting Hurts! then remove him from the situation and put him somewhere quiet. Tell him when he is ready to be nice and stop biting he may come out.
Good luck and whatever method you use, be consistent.
Molly
