Biting in a 14 month old

[TheMadHouse]

I have a 2.4 yer old and a 14 month old and over the last week, the 14 month old has started biting to get what he wants. My 2.4 year old has two really nasty bite marks on his back, where his brother has sunk his teeth in.

Any ideas how to handle this would be appreicated. At the moment I give a firm no and move him away and tell him we do not bite and then comfort his brother. I am not into smacking.

[thebecster]

My 14 month old has just started biting too. My sister (who is a child psychiatrist, so knows a lot about development) says it often happens when babies are on the cusp of being able to talk, but can't express exactly what they want, so they bite to get attention, and to communicate 'hey, I'm here'. from what she says your approach is just right - we are doing the same. We use the same words each time 'we do not bite', and then give him no attention at all. If he keeps doing it he gets a time out (1 minute being held on my knee but without eye contact). I don't believe in smacking either, but must confess I lost it with DS once when he was trying to electocute himself by biting electrical wires and kept running back to them when I moved him away. I smacked his hand Was so ashamed of myself. Then DS hit me in the head with his metal Tonka toy and giggled - he was clearly thinking 'Oh are we fighting Mummy? That's fun, lets fight!'

[glamourbadger]

I'm having the same problem with my DD. Got some advice from the twin mums here

[NAB3]

Could it have started to ease teething pain and has yturned into something else as it got a reaction?

[TheMadHouse]

I dont think that it is down to teething, as we are not currently teething. It is strange that it seems to start at 14 months!!!

I must keep being firm and telling him we do not bite.

[Heathcliffscathy]

please search under my name and biting and you'll find a whole load of stuff