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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

When do babies understand the word no?

16 replies

haloflo · 02/12/2011 13:29

More specifically when do they understand, no don't bite mummy, that hurts, bite this (teether) instead?

I'm being bitten left right and centre by my 8mo DD, please tell me she will soon stop?!

OP posts:

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reallytired · 02/12/2011 13:34

Poor you.

I'm afraid that nearly 10 year old son doesn't always get the word "No."

It is really hard at 8 months. I think if you get bitten you should put your baby down for ten minutes and not give any cuddles. My poor sil got bitten as she kept saying "NO" but didn't end the breastfeed or cuddle. Her son saw it as a game. In my experience biting often happens when a child/ baby is tired.

Seriously this stage will pass. My son doesn't bite although he is annoying in other ways. DD who is two and half rarely bites although she does throw tantrums.

exoticfruits · 02/12/2011 13:39

They understand it when they want to!
Just say 'no' each time and physically move them.
They will get it-hopefully soon.

Timeoutofmind · 02/12/2011 15:19

My 10mo understands the word 'no' because she moans everytime I say it but then continues to do what I've told her not to.

I then physically move her away which she doesn't like. I think at this age they just want to be in control!

fraktious · 02/12/2011 16:34

My 7mo understands no and sometimes heeds, or at least pauses and reconsiders! But with biting I always remove the boob!

SanTEEClaus · 02/12/2011 16:38

I think around 18 years, or when they leave home, whichever comes first.

Seriously, you need to just put her down with a firm 'no biting'. Over and over and over and over again. She'll get it eventually.

LilRedWG · 02/12/2011 16:39

DS understands the word and promptly tantrums when moved away from whatever he is destroying - he is 10mo and started crawling yesterday.

LilRedWG · 02/12/2011 16:40

Almost ten months old that is.

101North · 02/12/2011 16:50

i've just had to start using it on my 10mo usually when he launches himself at the cat - ooh he squeaks a bit and carries on regardless. I'll keep repeating 'no' and move him away til he's bored with doing that and decides to bite my foot/eat the pram wheel/pull the lamp over/bash the tv/etc etc etc ....repeat to fade

hardboiledpossum · 02/12/2011 17:48

I don't think DS 9months understands the word no but I've managed to get him to stop biting me by saying no in my cross voice and putting him down for 10 seconds. He notices the change in tone and cries when I put him down. I wouldn't put him down for 10 minutes though, that seems a bit extreme. Time out is meant to be for a minute per year but I find ten seconds long enough at this age.

hardboiledpossum · 02/12/2011 17:49

Also at this age I think they normally bite because they are teething so I always offer DS something hard to bite in to.

coolragdoll · 02/12/2011 19:23

It can be hard to tell- they may understand but may choose to ignore you. By the way, most children start using the word 'no' well before they use the word 'yes', but there is a gap between understanding and using with all words.

capecath · 02/12/2011 19:33

I realised my DS understood "no" around 12 months when he started shaking his head back at me and grinning... Oh dear!

cockle84 · 02/12/2011 21:08

I'm not sure my 8mo understands it but I must say it a lot (to the dog) because she's started going "noooooo" :)

Albrecht · 02/12/2011 22:14

I think they can understand that you say "no" when you disapprove of what they are doing quite early but I'm sure I read their brains aren't developed enough for them to actually have the self control to not do whatever it is until about 3. So they understand what you are saying, they just don't care.

Ds went through this little stage too, I wore a lot of covering clothing (hurts less through a few layers), said I didn't like it / hurts etc and tried to distract him. Doesn't last long. Then they start pinching you really hard. And scratching. And right now, rooting around in your belly button. Talk about invasion of personal space...

Sparklyboots · 02/12/2011 22:38

DS 11mo understands I don't want him to do it, or that it's at issue, or something, but often seems to repeat to check, iyswim. He did do a day or two of biting - I did sad faces, distressed voice (and inadvertent yelps!) tried to distract, swapped boobs. I always treated as if it was an accident - hurting me was even if the bite was 'intentional' - and didn't put him down or anything. He hasn't done it for a while, but we practice 'no' on a whole range of other things...

101North · 08/12/2011 11:18

Albrecht complete at

"So they understand what you are saying, they just don't care."

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