Biting 9 Month Old!

[SuperLuLu]

My 9 month old has just started biting...albeit, very lightly and playful...It may be teething related, but more worryingly I think I may be the route of the problem!! Without thinking for many months I pretend to "eat her all up" and then say "yum, yum, yum" as it made her giggle so much.
When she first started biting me and my husband thought it was quite cute and funny, but then decided that it was probably encouraging her seeing us thinking it was funny, so we have stopped that! It only dawned on me tonight (as she bit my cheek) that my games may also not be a good idea and will now put a stop to that!! Anyway......guess what I'm looking for now is ways of preventing her of doing it from now on!!!! Any ideas?
Stupid Mummy, but in my defence she is so damn cute, I do want to just eat her all up!!!!

[ditsydoll]

Most babies go through the biting stage. It's probably nothing to do with anything you have done and more exploring with her mouth (completely normal) although I wouldn't laugh at her as you won't show her its not ok to bite people.
At 9 months she has no empathy and won't know she's hurting you so I'd just say it's best to say 'no' when she does it, obviously not too harshly she's just a baby.

[PollyIndia]

My 9 month old does the same thing. I think it's affectionate as he does it with me and his childminder but not other people. He has 6 teeth so it ruddy hurts (and was definitely a catalyst to stopping breastfeeding at 8 months!). I just say no biting, shake my head and detach him (I often have to gently push his head in to get him to release). I agree with ditsy that there isn't much you can do. I hope he will grow out of it soon. I would hate it if he bit other children when he was older!

[maxslittlebrother]

I had the same thoughts and I was also doing the "I'll eat your toes/knees/nose" thing, but looking back I wouldn't blame it on those actions and it would be a shame for you to stop if your daughter finds it funny :)

I think the guys above have said it better than I can, so I'll just add that even if there is some confusion they'll work it out as long as you're consistent in showing that you disapprove of an actual bite. I think our son confused kissing with biting for a while. If there doesn't appear to be any malice when biting, then don't fret like we did. Be confident that they'll work it out.

[SuperLuLu]

Thanks for your comments....i've swapped the eating you up game for tickling!