Ghashers alert! biting baby HELP!

[deaconblue]

Ds is one and bites me regularly. He comes in for a cuddle and then takes a good old bite of neck/arm/cheek/any body part nearby. I know his teeth are really sore but he hardly ever bites anyone else. I say no loudly and firmly and put him down and walk off, he then cries but it doesn't stop him doing it minutes later.
Any ideas? MIL and Mum and Grandma "helpfully" suggested biting him back

[Saturn74]

Don't bite back!
I think the tactic you are already using is the most effective - put him down, say "no!" and walk away.
As long as you are consistent he will get the message.

[deaconblue]

It's been weeks now though. I really let out a squeal the other day when he sank his teeth into my neck and I couldn't get the little vampire off - that seemed to shock him a bit, perhaps my "no" needs to be louder and a bit scarier??

[RachelG]

I went through this with my DS, I was covered in bites!

Biting back is pointless, whatever anyone says. At this age, children simply cannot understand the concept of "this is what you did to me, see how it feels, it hurts so don't do it". Pointless and cruel.

The experts say (I always read lots of expert books whenever I have a problem!) that you should say very firmly "No biting", and look very serious for a few moments. Then move on to doing something else together. If he does it again, then do the same again. Also, I found that if DS came up for a cuddle and went towards my shoulder to bite me, I would say "no biting" before he actually did it, and that stopped him.

It works in the end. It's just a phase, it will pass, as will your bruises fortunately!

[Quootiepie]

DS bites (13 months) I just sit him on his bu, and say "no" firmly, but calmly. I can see a difference, he is starting to learn "no" aswell now and finger pointing Just a firm No seems to eventually work.

[Quootiepie]

*bum

Making a stern face aswell at the same time, rather than what I sometimes do - smile or laugh and say no.

[deaconblue]

I think I am guilty of laughing when he first started doing it as he really bares his teeth and swoops in for a bite and looks crazy. I find saying "no biting" if I spot him about to do it is quite good but often he catches me unawares. So pleased to hear it's just a phase though

[fimrie]

My son used to do this too at about the same age, and it really hurt! I think leaping up in shock and saying 'ow!' was very amusing for him, which egged him on. I tried saying 'no' very firmly, but he also seemed to find this quite hilarious unfortunately. I found that the best way to deal with it was to say nothing at all, and walk away from him. I don't know whether this is what stopped him, or if it was just a phase that he'd got to the end of, but he stopped, which was the main thing. Good luck!