For parents of biters please read

[Anonymous]

I have a very high energy 2.5 year old. We also have a 6 month old DS as well. My older one has bitten the baby over 6 times this weekend. One of the bite marks from Saturday is still there on his arm!! We have put him into time out in his room, we have put him in time out in the same room with us. We have talked to him, I even out of sheer desperation swatted him lightly on the bottom once ( this was after he hit his little brother a few times and then bit him). All of the biting and hitting takes place right next to me or my DH. Our older one gets lots of attention so I am not sure where the problem lies.
About three months ago he went through a biting stage but was biting me and other children and occasionally his brother. This time though it is all centered on his brother. Any ideas? All I get from people is to bite him back but I do not think that is the answer.

[sunnyskies]

I wish I had something to offer you. My nearly 1-year old is also biting alot (I posted a "help" topic for this a week or so ago but it seems no one really knows what to do and it is a phase kids/babies go through)

If I learn anything about this, I will post again. All that seems to help right now is a little tap across his mouth with two fingers and putting him down and saying "no". Of course, he thinks it is a big joke, but I try to stay firm. Its hard.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

My DS , 18 mo, has beent he bitee and the biter a couple of times in the past few months. Daycare said it's a phase and at his age, not a lot you can do except stay on top of situations which seems to cause biting. Teacher also noted that they had a similar situation last year in the spring where there were three biters in the class that seemed to such provoke the others.

My mother does tell the story about how when my brother was going thru the biting stage at your DS's age, she bit him back... and he never bit again!

[Anonymous]

My son was a biter at 2.5 too. I actually have a scar on my arm from one of his bites. I always said no, tried time outs, or diversions, but nothing seemed to work. He bit me so hard, and wouldn't stop, despite my crying out in pain, so I flicked him in the nose. It was a pretty hard flick, he let go and cried. My heart was breaking, because I usually don't resort to this type of punishment. We both just cried and cried, but he understood that he shouldn't bite.

A year later he got into the biting thing again. He bit his sister, and I told him that the rule is that if he bites her, I can bite him. He apologized, and hasn't bitten her again, and I didn't have to bite him. He is old enough now to reason with, and he has taken my threat very seriously.

[Anonymous]

Biting him back is NOT the answer. Parents should never harm their children, even if to teach a lesson.

He obviously has some pent-up aggression. Perhaps you can give him a stuffed animal or other soft toy and tell him when he feels the need to bite, he should only bite this toy, or his shirt, or something else soft that won't hurt anyone.

Good luck. 2nd children survive through all of this somehow!

[Anonymous]

My 2 yo is biting his older sister quite a bit now, and we don't know how to make it stop, but it tends to run in phases and we think its related to teething. Could it be his 2 year molars bothering him? Maybe some Tylenol would help a bit?

[Anonymous]

I've found that all the children who have bit my dd at daycare have been boys. Anybody know why? Boys at 2 yo already seem pretty aggressive; I see them rough housing with each other at daycare while the girls play peacefully.

[Anonymous]

I've got a 19 mo that is biting his older brother. He does it out of pure frustration/aggression when his brother takes something from him. He goes into time out every time he does it but what really works is to catch him in the act and "gasp". It stops him cold. My pediatrician said (it isn't applicable in our case but may be for some of you out there) that it is an attention getting ploy and to lavish attention on the person who has been bit.

[Anonymous]

10:26 - My son was bit on the nose by a little girl. Maybe we know different girls.

10:36 has some good points. The best point is about catching him in the act, although a simple gasp isn't my style. I found a big barked "no biting" followed by a time out did the trick. This did involve crying. Lots of it. They key was being swift and harsh in my tone. The key is saying very little beyond the "NO BITING." There really is nothing to explain.

[Anonymous]

I knew a woman that had a son and he was biting kids at daycare. Her son was actually kicked out of 3 daycares for biting. Their pediatrician told her to give him a little taste of vinegar on his tongue right after he bites someone. I thought it was crazy advice when I heard it. If you do give it a try (I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but you asked for suggestions.) don't let him drink the vinegar!
I've never tried this on my own children and I think I only would try it on my child if it got out of control. Hitting, spanking, etc won't get you anywhere either. I have no other suggestions.

[Anonymous]

My 2.5 y.o. son started biting about 2 weeks after bringing home his baby sister. He has mostly bitten me but occasionally daddy and almost his sister (I catch him before he can close his jaws of steel). What has worked for me so far (about 3 weeks with no bites) is I hold him down make him look me in the eye and say "no biting". I do not let him up until he repeats me. I hold him firmly, but not painfully so. Sometimes now he'll put his open mouth on me and then say "I'm not biting". Don't know if this will work for you but might be worth a try. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

I have a set of almost 3 yo twins. One is a biter. No matter what I do he won't stop. He has been doing this since he was one. His twin now starts yelling, NO BITE..really loud. I catch the biter, chomping his teeth together. So, then I put him in time out. He cries and cries but have yet to figure out exactly what to do about the biting.

It never ends. sigh..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've found that all the children who have bit my dd at daycare have been boys. Anybody know why? Boys at 2 yo already seem pretty aggressive; I see them rough housing with each other at daycare while the girls play peacefully.

That's ridiculous and sexist. The girls in our play group are as active and aggressive as the boys.

[Anonymous]

I agree. My 2 year old boy is not "pretty agressive," and I've seen plenty of girls who don't sit and "play peacefully."

Also, ask yourself why you prefer children who "play peacefully." I have heard this from other mothers citing this as some kind of admirable character trait, like they had something to do with it AND like it's the Holy Grail of parenting.

[Anonymous]

My 3 yr old was a major biter, only to family thank goodness! We taught him to (this is gross to some) lick. Every time he was going for the bite we would say, lick, lick lick!! he still needs a reminder sometims. I don't really like getting licked by my child but it sure beats getting bit!