what can I do with my son who keeps biting himself?

Question

my son is 16 months old and when i tell him no to something or when he gets angry he bites his hand and starts throwing a fit is it a stage has anyone elses child biten himself when angry?

Answer 1

Don't worry my daughter would do this as well and she was three, at your son's age she would just beat her head against the floor. I talked to the pediatrician and felt like I was a monster because of this and he laughed and told me not to worry that just like adults a child had to have a way to realease tension and this was her way he said not to show any alarm at her doing it as she was seeking a reaction from us to be rewarded and if she didn't get it she would stoip and sur enough she did.

Answer 2

He is having a temper tantrum. His little emotions are really coming in strong now. He is almost two, so this stage may last for a while. All the previous answers are good advice too, except the collar? That works for dogs but a collar for a child to keep him from biting would be so large, he couldn't fit through a door. LOL!

Answer 3

Kids often express themselves by biting at this age. I don't know how frequently they bite themselves when upset, but I guess it's better than biting others!

Work on teaching him the words he needs to express himself. "I see you are mad!" or "you sure look frustrated" or "that made you angry" so that he'll learn how to say how he feels.

Try not to use the word "no" so much. Use other words too. "Hot" or "dangerous" or "owie!" or "hurt baby!" or "sharp" or "not for babies!" They respond better to "NO!" when they don't hear it all the time over and over again. Also, if you need to take something away from him, instead of saying "no" say "thank you" in a pleased voice and hold your hand out like you expected him to give it to you all along. Little ones like to make adults happy! He may well hand it right to you instead of fighting over it.

Answer 4

I worked in a daycare where a child would constantly bite himself, leaving horrible scars...we went on christmas break and came back and his parents said he just stopped...basically he grew out of it...Maybe you should try talking to a doctor about it, each situation is different.

Answer 5

That's not all that uncommon. I remember being a little bitty guy and tried that and my Mum said, "Go right ahead...bite a litle harder...let's see some blood"...needless to say my self biting phase didn't last very long.

Answer 6

Your son may be showing signs of autism. He may also have discovered
a bizarre way of releasing endorphins (same as women cutting themselves).

SEE A DOCTOR.

He probably won't hurt himself, but it could be a sign of other issues.

Answer 7

he is probably just biting the closest thing to him.after all he is still very young.if he is not breaking the skin i would wait awhile and see if he grows out of it. but i wouldn't wait too long.this could be a sign of things to come.good luck1

Answer 8

naughty chair time!! each and every time he bites or hits positioned him on the naughty chair for like one and a nil.5 minutes (one minute for each year of his age) clarify to him what he did incorrect then make him make an apology after :)

Answer 9

drug stores might have a bad tasting body soap for little tots that u could use on him and he wont do it any more, even if you dont use the soap. they have that in nail polish for nail biters, y not skin biters?

Answer 10

usually it's a phase..... if it truly bothers you talk to the doc on your next visit. my little man would do the same thing..... it's their way of expressing themselves..... can't blame them , their vocabulary still needs some work! good luck!!!