Ouch my ds (16 months) has just bitten me...

[podkin]

...that's the 2nd time today. Any views on how best to deal with it ?

He has also started crying every time we go in a shop ! Real tears, not sure why ? Any clues ?

my 15 mths DD only bites me when she is hungry!!

collected my DS 18ths from nursery the other day to be told he'd taken a big chunk out of a little boys arm for no reason!!!-he's started doing it to me too - normally smack his hand and tell him off but not sure if this works - my mum told me to bite him back but the thought fills me with horror - apparantly she did this to me when i bit her and it worked - mums have some wierd advice don't they???

I cannot understand why people would bite back therefore doing the very thing they are telling the child not to!

When my son did it at about this age I just said no very loudly and firmly, and if I was holding him, I put him down and walked away. Removing attention is a very powerful tool as a parent. This worked for me anyway!

have tried this too when DS is being naughty - ie hammering the tv with his shoe etc, but he just laughs at me and runs back into the room for some more. is 18mths too young to start using the naughty step? - don't know where i'm going wrong, as i get down to his level, have a firm voice and remove him - he just takes the P! - DH however can reduce him to tears with just a loud NO.

jaybird, just persist with distraction! It works so well. Try to get him immediately involved with other things, more appropriate for him to play with.

What are your expectations of him around playing? At this age he will need pretty much constant attention and playing with so if you are doing other things or out of the room for some time I think this sort of behaviour is a direct result. The reason he runs back in for some more is that it's like a game - he has mum's full attention and knows how to get it again!

Once you've removed him from kicking the tv or whatever and said no, then distract with something you know he loves. Or if he's in full flow just point out the window and say "WOW! A HELICOPTER!" or "LOOK! a STREET CLEANER!" or something that will get him clambering to the window. He's then removed himself, you can say "oh dear it's gone now. Shall we play with your helicopter now?" and off you go to a happier activity! That's the theory and it did work for me, 99% of the time.

thanks beansmum -i must admit, this behaviour does start when he's a bit bored. But, i do expect him to play by himself some of the time as i have other things to get on with and can't constantly be playing (much as i'd love to!). do you have any good things hthat would entertain him that he can do by himself?

well, I'm not the expert as I have struggled to get my son to play by himself as a result of giving him full on play and attention! It did result in a very happy well behaved toddler who didn't get the terrible twos but the flipside is he wants my attention all the time!

I have found the things that really engage him are the physical things, like playdough, or if you can bear it, water play is brilliant - a bowl on the kitchen floor (with bubbles and not too full!)with pans or toys to 'wash up' keeps him happy but I do get water on the floor!

Hope these are of some use, good luck!

ds bites me sometimes, when he is teething; or wants my attention NOW; or if he is playing and gets over-excited.

how do i handle it?
i get down on his level, look at him and tell him 'no bite mommy, hurts mommy'. usually he will cry. i ignore him.

I would do a 'cross face' and say in raised voice very firmly 'NO!' - they get the message fairly quickly. Also put them down and walk away.