Biting ;-(

remove from the situation immediately. make a huge fuss over the bitee. And seriously - they get over it. i had two prolific biters and they don't now.

Posted this in Dec too, so just a copy and paste

Peanut we had that a while back, but he gets bitten a lot too. It's just a social thing and unfortunately sometimes they have to grow out of it. All you can do is teach them better ways of communicating their frustrations.

Like others said, make a big deal about how it hurts others, focus more on the person hurt rather than the biter (as often kids don't mind the negative attention because it means they have been 'heard' so to speak).

At DC they said it's all about supporting them through it and just reminding them to 'use their words' when they get frustrated or too excited. Jack now says 'stop it (insert name), I don't like it!' Very cute but quite assertive which is good.

(He's also currently sporting a bruise on his nose from being chomped the other day... apparently he gave as good as he got though lol)

Tom does it when they are playing. So they start the rough and tumble and he goes straight for the kill so to speak. He also does it if James is just sitting there.....the frustration is all mine.

I have tried fussing heaps over James but wonder if some of it is jealousy and me fussing so much is making it worse.

I'm pleased this has been posted as my little one (14mths) had just started to bite me and DH, plus the leather furniture. I've been putting him in timeout in his bedroom for a minute and it seems to work for short periods of time, as he hates being by himself. I think it could be a teething issue with the furniture biting though. He has also been a victim of daycare biting and has a fabulous scar on the middle of his forehead, that he received when he was about 7 months old.

I feel for you, Harry went through this stage for quite a while on and off (still does occassionally but no-where near as often as he used to). It sucks as the mum doesn't it!! I was so close to tears so many times as I felt so bad and helpless, and actually I did cry about it one afternoon when it all felt too much!!!

That's really positive that he didn't bite the little boy when they were fighting over the toy.

What we did with Harry
- reacted straight away with "Ouch! No biting, that hurts"
- put him into the corner
- made him come and look at the person he bit, showed him the marks on their arm and talk about how Harry bit them and now they're sad because it hurt. He then had to say 'sorry' (didn't have the words but would stroke them and give a kiss). We'd talk about using gentle hands.

I'm sure many OB mum's remember the playdate at Julia's where Harry just kept biting and I had to just keep a real close eye on him and keep taking him to time out and then back to say sorry. I actually had a bit of a cry in the bathroom cos I felt so bad and helpless I think often it's harder on the mum of the biter, so big hugs. Hopefully it was just a one day thing cos of copying the kid who bit him, and he's now got it out of his system!!

For us it was a long time but things are so much better now. He'll bite every so often, but usually only me or DH. It's flippin sore too. Now he does it to communicate, so we keep telling him to say "NO!" instead. He did bite another little boy at a kindy visit the other day (first time he's bitten a kid in AGES), cos Harry was playing with the chalkboard and the other kid pushed him away and wouldn't let him play. I did the whole time out and sorry thing, but I didn't feel as bad cos he didn't just do it randomly IYKWIM. Not that I want him to react in that way, and not that the other kid deserved it, but at least it didn't just seem like I had a mean nasty boy who randomly hurt other kids. Not that he was ever doing that, I guess it just felt like it sometimes when I was in the midst of dealing with it.

Ah sorry got a bit carried away, but I hope you get the gist of what I'm saying! When does he go back to daycare? Let us know how it goes

Oh and my MIL and SIL said to bite him back too, it doesn't make sense to me and I was furious when SIL said that if he bit her she'd bite him back.

in my experience being an early childhood teacher...

is it a VERY common issue with young children.. its completely normal behaviour.. Its important that you dont think its anything you have done etc...

You will probly find that your child is

a) hungry
b) tired
c) frustrated and cant express themself "i want THAT toy" etc
d) seeking attention - from adult, another child etc

I would suggest documenting WHEN it is happening.. and see if a pattern is happening...

is it before meal times... is it when wanting a toy... then you can be there and be prepared.. when you see your child 'lunge' in for a bite.. pick them up or move them away and firmly say "NO BITING - IT HURTS"

keep it short and sweet.. no lecture.. then give the victim lots of cuddles and reasurrance.. and attention.

and use LOTS and LOTS of praise when they are interacting kindly with friends or other siblings...

" thats lovely gentle touching.... i love how you can cuddle your sister.."

all that being said.. its usually a phase and they WILL grow out of it. I know it can be embarrasing, distressing to all parents... hang in there !!

Thank you Liz for all the info and bunintheoven. Makes me feel so much better!

He went back to daycare today and attempted to bite a wee boy. Luckily the wee boys mum is a daycare teacher so intervened and timed out Mac. I was relieved that it was her and not another parent as at least she knows the reasons behind it happening etc and not just thinking I am a bad mummy.

After time out he didn't bite again so who would know.

I think with Mac it is def a frustration thing as his communication isn't crash hot. He always focussed on the physical side of things and easily keeps up with the 4 year olds but can't communicate with them as such.