Biting - Port Orange,FL

Hi S.,
I recommend buying the book "The Way I Feel" and starting to discuss different emotions with your child, it sounds like it's time. The problem is that frustration is such a hard thing to deal with, especially when you don't even know what it is, let alone appropriate ways to deal with it! With my now 26-month old girl, we talked about stomping our feet and "roaring like dinosaurs" when we get angry, rather than hitting, kicking or biting. Or when frustrated, letting "the tickle bug" make us feel better. The message needs to be not only that certain "easier" reactions are bad, but that there are safe, appropriate ways to express those feelings and get them out, without hurting someone or something else. That's the key. I also allow my daughter to hit her stuffed frog chair in her bedroom (but only that) if she truly feels she is so frustrated that nothing else will help. This way, you provide a way to validate her feelings, which is great, without condoning actions that are hurtful and disrespectful. She barely ever even hits that frog anymore! But she also tells me when she's angry or frustrated now, too. It seemed to help her so much to "name" the feelings and understand that they were temporary and would pass. Toddlers are learning so much and have so many boundaries, it's very normal to get frustrated, heck, adults do it every single day. The trick is to have healthy ways to express ALL our feelings, not only the positives ones we like to have.

Good luck!
K.

I stand my my little medicine dropper with vinegar in it. It only takes a tiny little drop.

She is probably teething and needs to have a chew toy

There is a bitter apple bite solution that you can put on finger nails to stop children from biting them....put it on the area she bites you and maybe that will be a wake up to stop? I don't know, maybe it will help?

S.-

My son use to bite me all the time and when I spoke to his doctor, he advised me to bite him back, but not hard. I did that only twice and his habit stopped. My other son started biting and I rubbed tabasco sauce on his tongue which he hated. He wanted a drink of water which made it even hotter. They both stopped their habits pretty quick. You have to see what works for you. My oldest son loved spicy foods, so the tabasco sauce did not work on him. Good luck!

Hi S.,

I'm with both of the mom's that have left you advice. I used vinegar on my youngest and showed him videos, read books, and tried to make him understand that it hurts and is not a positive behavior. It is hard when they are that age because they are mobile and trying out their independence, but verbal commands take a long time to sink in. Using visuals and making her taste vinegar are appealing to senses that are a little more developed. I wish you luck and hope that she stops.

God Bless,

S.