I have a 4yr old girl, and almost 2yr old boy...My girl never bit but my son is starting to bite...
2007-02-20 04:10:55 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Please do not bite him back. This will only reinforce the message that biting is okay. . "If mom can bite me, I can bite my sister." Biting back is a punishment (you controlling your son). If you want him to learn self control he needs to be disciplined.
Take him aside and have him press his forearm or hand to his teeth to show how biting feels. Tell him “Ouch! See how biting hurts?” Give him something he can bite. Tell him “If you need to bite then you can bite this.”
Children his age will often start biting because they are unable to express themselves. When they are feeling angry or frustrated, they see that biting is the only way to solve their problem. Empathize with him after a biting incident to help him better express his feelings. “I bet you were very (upset, angry, mad, frustrated…) when you bit your sister. What can you do instead of biting?” Once he has developed a bigger vocabulary, he will learn how to better express his feeling rather than bite.
When he bites his sister, rush to her and empathize ignoring your son. Say to her “Ouch! That must have hurt! Let’s get some ice to put on your wound.” You’re son will not like the feeling of being shut out and your daughter getting some extra attention for it. Have your daughter express her feelings about being bit. She can tell your son “Don’t bite me! I will not play with you if you are going to bite me!” This message will hold more weight coming from your daughter rather than you.
Another thing you can try when he bites is to get to his level and say “No biting!” Take him gently to an area away from his sister where there are no distractions and tell him “When you are ready to play gently then you can come back.” This is not a time out because you are not setting a time limit (you controlling your son). He can return when he is ready to control himself. Hope this helps!
2007-02-20 06:12:14 · answer #1 · answered by marnonyahoo 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Biting in toddlers is more common than you may think, they are still getting teeth in. Sometimes that may be the cause, and giving them something to chew on will help.
Another reason a toddler will bite is to get a reaction out of you or another child or, whoever that toddler is biting. The best thing to do is remove that child from an area for a moment. Give a firm no, and set them in time out. When the toddler has stayed the two minutes then let them out. If that is not working then you may have to get a bit more physical, like a spat on the hand or something. Most times though timeout will start to work if it is done every single time, and the child is made to sit and not have any fun what so ever.
Now if your child bites you, even if you are angry try not to look the part, just tell the toddler the same way a firm no biting and sit them in time out.
When your toddler is playing and being happy and no biting, say way to go you are not biting, what a nice boy you are.
The simple truth is though, biting is a phase a lot of toddlers will go through. It is a big issue in daycares because of germs and what have you, I know I used to work in one. Just like any phase it will dissappear in time. If it is happening in daycare ask to veiw class sometime, because it could be a crying out sort of thing, not enough attention or something to that affect. Talk the issues over with the teacher and dirrector. Let them know that you are trying your best. Do not be discouraged though. It is nothing you are doing wrong I am sure.
2007-02-20 04:32:46 · answer #2 · answered by trhwsh 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In some ways it depends on why your kid is biting. My daughter at 2 would bite when she was happy as a way of playing. Not so fun for us, but it wasn't designed to be aggressive. What worked best for us was when we could see the 'about to bite' look of glee in her eyes and say in a goofy voice 'you can't bite your friends'. We could head her off before she bit. We paired this with time outs and stern nos. She started saying it along with us and after a day or two stopped biting.
mostly remember that this is a fairly normal thing at 2 and will pass. I don't think you need to reach the smacking or biting back stage.
2007-02-20 04:37:36 · answer #3 · answered by Cindy B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a biter. We diligently repeated the phrase "NO BITING" while removing her from the room to the time out chair. We patiently kept with this method for several months. The frequency of biting incidents was reduced, but even after a year, she would occasionally lose control and bite again. I finally bit her back - very controlled, but enough that it hurt her. She never bit again after that. My husband had a cow, but the technique was effective. And no, my daugter was not scarred for life. She simply found a different way to express herself.
I DO like the suggestion of having the child bite his own arm to experience how it feels. Wish I had thought of that.
2007-02-20 04:34:36 · answer #4 · answered by not yet 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The only answer that I can give is to bite him back. It worked for all of my nephew and nieces and my kids. They don't like it when you bite them then they learn. Sometimes you might have to do it a little hard but it does work. It sounds mean and I know I will get a lot of crap for it. But that was how I was raised and I am not a serial killer of a criminal.
2007-02-20 04:15:48 · answer #5 · answered by ambo 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Bite him back, or if he is biting his sister, tell her to bite him in return. When they are that age they do not understand that biting hurts, so when the get bitten in return, they figure out that it hurts and they don't want to be bitten again, so usually, they will give it up.
2007-02-20 04:20:18 · answer #6 · answered by swanser 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Whatever you do, don't bite him back! Sounds logical enough, but you'd be surprised.
I had the same problem with my oldest, and a sharp "NO!" for each bite worked after about 3 days.
2007-02-20 04:14:26 · answer #7 · answered by Veruca Salt 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
just reinforce to him that biting is not nice. when he bites, put him in the naughty corner. don't give up on the corner, even if he tries to run out. never never hit him or spank him because that will teach him that hitting is ok. just keep up with the discipline and things will turn out good. good luck and have a nice day.
2007-02-20 04:17:16 · answer #8 · answered by Sarah 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
pop his little hand everytime that he bites. if that doesn't work, then have her to bite him back. when he cries, tell him that's just how his sister feels when he bites her.
Mom of B & D
2007-02-20 04:30:57 · answer #9 · answered by Mom of B & D 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
this may sound cruel but I bit my daughter back once and she cried it hurt, so I told her I know that is why you don't bite. it worked for me.
2007-02-20 04:17:27 · answer #10 · answered by kissybertha 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋