How do I get my almost 2 year old to stop biting?

Question

I have tried spanking, I've tried a little smack in the mouth coupled with a "No BITE!!" It usualy happens when he's excited and is playing. It's not happening out of anger or tension.. It's always associated with a running up for affection or play. I like the tobasco idea.. but I know consistancy is key. It's so frustrating raising kids sometimes. And we are no strangers to corporal punishment in this house. I'm not a wussy Mom. Of course my kids are not beaten either.

Answer 1

I grabbed the little biter's mouth firmly, but not painfully the second they zoomed in. It's hard to explain what I mean, but you sort of "squish" their little cheeks a bit, giving them a "fishy face" that forces them to keep their mouth open. It is annoying enough that my kids stopped pretty quick, but you need to gauge exactly how firmly to "squish" - too lightly, and they giggle at the funny game, and too hard and you would scare or hurt the child. Hold the pose for a few seconds as you remind them, "no biting!" The trick is to catch them while they're still thinking about it, right before they actually do it.

Answer 2

I've taken classes before to work at a daycare and we talked a whole class about toddler biting. We were taught that the toddler doesn't realize he/she is hurting the other person. He is just trying to vent frustration or being curious. You should have the biter help his victim with you. Show him how you need to get a baggy of ice to put on the bite mark. Explain that the bite hurt the other person and now we need to fix it. I've actually done this at daycare, and it made the biter feel bad for what he did. He even said sorry and hugged the victim.

Answer 3

At that age, it is foolishness to threaten to place a negative evaluation in his permanent file, or withold allowance, or give a "time-out".

It needs to HURT more to bite than to not bite. He (or she) needs a spanking. For it to have an effect, it must hurt, it must be constant (not only when his biting angers you or when it's convenient for you) and it must happen in a close enough time frame for him to connect the bite with the spank.

Answer 4

We had MAJOR issues with two of our kids biting. Ultimately, we imposed a nasty rule. If you bit, you had to eat a hot pepper. Granted, my kids were older than yours, but you get the idea.

Try putting a little vinegar on your finger, and putting it on his tongue after he bites. That should definitely give him the idea that biting is bad...without causing him any physical harm.

Good luck.

Answer 5

It only took one small smack (nothing hard, people, don't get carried away) on my son's mouth to get him to stop. The shock got him more than anything.

Answer 6

Put some Tabasco on your arm , next time he'll think twice :))

Answer 7

bite them back usually makes them stop biting

Answer 8

When my son bit me I spanked him...