Biting Problems with 1 Year Old

Oh my. Lot's of kids do this. They look for a reaction! I remember years ago my babysitter put a dab of tabasco sauce on my brothers tongue when he was biting everyone...and it definetly stopped him! (He was about 2 years old) Like you, I wouldn't bite him back either...maybe try the mild tabasco? GL.

Being uncomfortable with biting back and water splash is very ok because those things will not fix the concern. "Two wrongs don't make it right" and biting him will just tell him its ok to bite. Simply telling him "no, biting hurts" and turning his attention to something he can bite such as teether diaper pinned to his shirt and/or redirecting him to another activity. I have one other suggestion looking into Dr. Brazleton's TouchPoints. These will help to explain stages of development and how other areas of development may regress. This may also assist with the sleeping issues as well.

Really, his biting is a phase and not something that he should be punished for. He does, however, need to be taught how it hurts you and to be shown what he can do instead. When he bites you, make a big, sad, hurt face. Ouch! That hurts mommy! We don't bite mommy, we bite apples! And then you can have him help you take care of your booboo. Also, watch for the triggers and for cues that he's coming in for a nibble. When you see him starting to get overly excited, pick him up with a gentle voice (I see you're getting frustrated, too excited, overstimulated...)and tell him that he needs a time out or time alone (but not like you think!). Then take him to a quiet spot in the house (or outside or wherever is quiet) and sit with him, read a book, go for a walk, etc and help him calm down. "Time out" is a great way to show your little one now how to settle himself down by making it a pleasant and quieting experience with you, and by showing him it's ok and even fun to take some time alone when you need it. You're also showing him that you respect his emotions and his needs, and you're predicting the situations that will make him bite and avoiding it, instead of punishing him for something he hasn't much control over. You're doing a great job- good luck!!

Hi, My name is A.. I am 25 and worked in childcare for 7 years. I have had tons of experience with this. Most often when a child is biting it's because they are trying to express something they can't put to words, whether they are angry, scared, or excited. When I have been in that situation I look the child directly in the face and say "No Biting" "Show me what I can do for you and I will" "Biting Hurts me" after saying these 3 statements firm but very short sentences. They lose you after a minute if you don't. I try and figure out what they want or need. Then I give them the words and a sign to do with it so that they have the tools for next time. This doesn't work right away but it does help and eventually you may see your child sign to you..this helps a lot with language development. I have a God Daughter who is 5 when she first came into my life she was 1 abandoned to her grandmother, she had tantrums and bit all the time. She didn't pick up language until she was basically 2 language became her barrier, so signing helped her a lot. Now she's a chatter box, with a ton of words.
You are right about biting, I remember biting my mom in the shower once because I got shampoo in my eyes. She bit me back and I never forgot it. I wonder today why she didn't have more patience with me. I was only 4!
Goodluck

My 14 month old DS also bites some, but only when he's hungry and it's not hard. I was told by my mother that I was a biter. She swears by her technique:
Right after your child bites you, grab a little arm(or something). Then, show all your teeth and make a horribly, scary sound as you place your teeth on the body part(no biting, just there).
According to my mother, I ran away crying and that was the last time I bit anyone.
Plus, I read on Parents.com that children under 2 cannot understand time-outs, because they can't grasp the concept of discipline yet. They say to distract and redirect, basically from 6months to 2 years. It's a great site!!
Hope this helps,
MC

Hello,
i understand that you and everyone that has posted so far is against biting. But i just wanted to let you know that my daughter now 8 bit 2 times when she was under 2 she bit my son twice. I bit her back not hard at all just hard enough for her to feel it and know it hert.. She bit the 2 times and i bit her both times. And scolded her when i did it and said see it hurts you cant do that.. Mommy show you how it hurts.. She never bit again.. Some people think its awful.. I have taught a few kids this way and it is a quick fix.. Maybe too easy.. I do have a sister who does not like that way and she ignores it or says owe that hurts dont bite.. He has been biting for over a year and he is a little over 2.. It is getting less frequent but i dont like to be around him when he bites he has bitten my daughter 3 times.. I say teach and get it over with.. You dont need to bring blood or even marks.. As long as he is just biting your husband i suppose you could let it go on.. But when you go back to work he may become more frustrated and the biting may get worse.. (if) he is put in daycare and your husband isnt around to bite on he may choose another child..

What ever you choose for a method of stopping it, i wish you lots of luck and best wishes.. I love this site cause you get to see tons of peoples oppinions and take what you want from it.. I have learned alot of things that i could have done better.. And i have learned alot of things that i know i wouldnt change.. Most of all i have learned we all are parents and the choice of what we do is ours.. Kids are a beautiful responsability.. Thank you so much for listening to my opinion even though it is not what others like to do.. I wish you all the best.. Just love your baby no matter what you do cause they grow up too quickly..

K.

My son will be 3 in August. He did the exact same thing. He is biting you out of love. DON'T bite him or splash him. This is something he will grow out of. Until then, don't give him feedback that will make him want to do it more. You can firmly say "we don't bite", but don't respond with "OUCH!" or anything of that nature. That will only make him try to produce the same response again.

My son used to do the same thing. Whenever I could sense that he was about to bite, I would tell him 'No' sternly and suggest that he clap his hands instead. My son is now 3 years old and claps whenever he gets too excited.

Sorry to hear you do not agree with bitting back. I felt the same way until my daughter started bitting. My brother used to bite me when he was a toddler and left bruses all up my arms and legs my mom tried everything including putting pepper in his mouth. Bitting him back was the only thing that worked. Now my son never bit and I think that is because his friend Sam used to bit him. He would tell me bitting hurt, he understood becuase he had been bit (maybe not by me) I used to get so mad when Kaden would show me his arm with Sams teeth marks and near blood. I asked his mother what she intended on doing about it and she said I don't want to bite him back... I told her they couldn't hang out until he stopped bitting. She bit him later that night( when he bit her on the leg) He hasn't bit anyone since. My daughter was never bit, but started bitting. It's not mean to bite them back. Think of it this way... he doesn't understand that it hurts. He is only a year. He has little concept of pain. Even a small bite with an explaination of Ouch! will make him realize that his chewing on you actually hurts. I really don't know what to tell you if you completely refuse. I bit my daughter on the arm, 6 months and not once has she bit her brother (or anyone else). She actually tells her little sister (8months old) "no no! no bite!Bite Ouch!" I wish you luck because there is nothing worse then your child bitting. Just because he hasn't bit anyone else doesn't mean he won't. I hope you find a solution.

Sorry I didn't tell you anything you haven't heard before but maybe pepper or soap in the mouth will work... I think that is meaner because they don't understand that bitting HURTS.

Your instincts are right on, mama. Biting your child is childish and violent, and very poor parenting. Remind yourself that you are the adult. If you resort to physically assaulting a baby, well...you have some issues!

We recently extinguished this behavior in my 17 month old (she is my second child). She started biting at 14 months and OUCH did it hurt.

EVERY time she did it a firm "NO BITING!" and then "biting hurts. not nice" followed by quick removal from the situation was what did it. She has not bitten in 2 months. :) Good luck!