What do you do when your 2 year old daughter bites and pinches you, for no apparent reason?

Question

Is it a teething thing?
She only does it to my wife though.

Thanks Rose Tyler and everyone for their answers.

Answer 1

This is a behavioural tactic used by young children who often cannot communicate their needs or wishes as efficiently as adults can. In order to combat your young child's negative behaviour, you first need to determine the stimulus for her behaviour, i.e. biting nad pinching you "for no apprent reason."

1. Does she need something, and cannot ask quickly enough or clearly enough? Is she getting frustrated?

If so, prompt her to "use her words." Model for her, "Oh! You want a cookie. Say, "Want cookie."

2. Attention: Does she want your attention? Model for her; "I want to play, Daddy." or "Play Daddy."

3. Model positive: "You need to use your words. I will listen to you better if you use your words." Or: "Daddy is busy right now. After Daddy says goodbye to Grandma, THEN I will play with you."

Typically, children at this age until around 5 will have communicative delays, and pragmatic delays. These can all be thwarted by instilling model behaviours and "catch phrases" that can serve to prompt the child to "use their words" to get their needs and wishes across, and also practise their social skills atthe same time.

Developmentally, children will do this more at the ages where language is still forming, such as ages 0 -2.9 years, and then decrease these behaviours as they increase in age and have clear/consistent follow-through on appropriate behaviours by all caregivers (i.e. parents, teachers, carers) at all times.

Answer 2

It's a phase they go through. Every toddler I know has pinched or bitten someone. Hell, I even did it as a child (so my mother tells me).

If she does it, tell her "No" and move her away from you. She needs to understand that is unacceptable. If she is 2 years old, she doesnt' understand how this is a bad thing--she is acting on instinct. Ever felt a toddler's teeth? They are sharp and when they bite down, it hurts. They are understanding their ability to use their teeth and whatnot. Spanking a 2 year old won't make her understand what she did was wrong. And before everyone jumps on my case, I'm not saying spanking is bad, just it really does nothing for the toddler to understand what she did was wrong. Your wife needs to get her away from her when she does bite or pinch. She will then learn that she can only be near her when she behaves.

That's just my 2 cents.

Answer 3

Absolutely go back to Rose Tyler's answer. And remember that kids just grow out of almost all of these issues that worry parents so much. Have you got a copy of Dr. Christopher Green's book Toddler Taming? It has answers to every single toddler problem from sleep to eating to biting. And it's a relaxing, empowering, amusing book which would make any parent of a young child feel happier. It is a great investment. Get it from Amazon. Good luck. And don't bite your child. That's silly.

Answer 4

At two years old explaining why you do not bite or pinch is pointless and poor parenting.
Use some cause and effect, if she pinches pinch back if she bites pretend to bite back. Quit making excuses like teething. You don't need to be cruel just enough for it to be unpleasant. I do not condone violence against children but at two they will remember a swat on the butt a lot better than a lecture. Wait for them to get a bit older before you use time outs and withholding privileges.

Answer 5

Take her back to the hospital you got her from, and demand that they either refund or replace.

Under the sale of goods act you have the right to expect goods of merfchantable quality, if she is biting and pinching you then undoubtably she fails this threshold. The only probelm I can see is that after two year the hospital may claim that you haven't returned the goods in sufficient time, and therefore any defect in the product is your responsibility


"The Sale of Goods Act states that if customers want to reject faulty goods, they have to do so within a "reasonable time". A legal definition of "reasonable" is not given though - it varies from case to case and could be just a few weeks from the date of purchase.

"If a customer rejects faulty goods within this "reasonable" period, they're entitled to ask for their money back. All customers can claim compensation at any time if they choose. If you sell to consumers - not other traders - they can ask for a repair or a replacement immediately (instead of asking for a refund) at any time until six years after purchase."

Answer 6

Do it back to her, she won't like it and probably won't do it again. I have never done this, as I haven't had this problem, but I have heard from many people that it works. It's not very nice having a child that goes around biting and pinching, she will start doing it to other children if you don't sort the problem out now.

Answer 7

What I do when me niece spits and slaps at me.
I put on a sad hurt face tell her that that is not nice and move away from her, then I pick up a toy that she wants, when she asks for it I pretend to be afraid of her and get her to say sorry before I give her the toy.
This seems to be working "one slap at a time".
Never slap a child the best you can do is teach a child what no means.

Answer 8

My son did the same thing about this time. Is your wife with her more than anyone else? Your wife should be firm and let her know that the behavior is unexceptable, and dare i say it, bite her back. Not hard enough to leave a mark, of course, but enough to let her know that what she is doing hurts. everyone will disagree, im sure, but thats how i broke my son.

Answer 9

i have 3 children when my 5 year old was younger and did it i did it back and she never did it again with my 2 year old she has just started doin it coz another child did it to her 2 which the parent just said said 2 her child no that is naughty where as i told my child no and bit her she has not done it since but did remark that my friends child didnt get told off. it might sound harsh but wen they realise that it hurts it tends 2 put them off doin it again

Answer 10

Find-out, what exactly, her problem is. Child does not do anything, without any rhyme or reason. The possibilities are, her teeth must be coming out and it must be irritating. She would be experiencing, stomach ache. Her nails would be uncut. There are numerous things like these. Please, check all these and look for more.