biting 14 month old. HELP!!!!!

[kid]

I need some help.
My nephew is 14 months old and he is constantly biting my 21 month DS. My sister looks after DS 2 days a week and I look after my nephew 1 day a week.
Everytime DS goes past him or even in the same room sometimes, my nephew attacks him!
DS is starting to bite back now which I didn't want as he has never been a biter!
My sister is not being consistent with her discipline for her son and I don't know what to do!
Has anyone else got any advice to stop this ASAP?!

From postings on this site, and certainly in our circle of toddler friends, this is a really common problem, and it can easily be solved but your sister definately needs to be consistent - so she might actually be your biggest problem! This is what my nanny and I did (she brings her own child with her, and they had a mutual outbreak of this!) Every time he bites her (as he probably does) she just needs to put him down, or slightly away from her. Firmly, but definately. And every time he looks as if he is about to bite your DS, he needs to be firmly removed, perhaps just outside the door, and your child visibly fussed over and comforted. I think it's best to intervene before the bite happens, as the reaction is doubtless the main entertaining part of doing it, from a 14-month perspective.

Can you discuss with your sister the importance of the two of you having a consistent strategy in general, and bring this up within that?

My nephew used to attack my dd when I looked after him. Everytime he did it I put him in the bedroom that had a gate across it so that he couldn't get out for a few minutes. He soon learned that it wasn't fun.
Agree with Blu though, you need a strategy that you will both use to be consistent. Have a good talk with your sister.

Yup, that's the way to do it. Worked for me. Also don't play 'crocodile' or 'lion' games for the moment. If you make biting exciting it doesn't help (that's experience talking!). Your nephew doesn't realise it hurts as such, he just enjoys the sensation and the exciting reaction, which is why the negative attention things works eventually. It's dog training, basically.

My 12 month old is also biting, I think to get our attention... if I'm busy in the kitchen etc. he bites my legs... I know he's teething so it may just be his gums are itchy? It's hard to intercept him! Any further advice for a young toddler...

well, I had the pleasueof looking after my nephew for a vey long and exhausting 8 hours today! Within 10 minutes of getting there DS had been attacked 3 times!
I don't want anyone to think that DS is an angel but the attacks are totally unprovoked. I think I need to have a word with my sister as I have found out that when she is meant to be looking after both of the kids, she is actually spending up to 4 hours online (maybe I could change the password and not tell her!)
I found that I spent half of the day shouting NO at my nephew but at least DS survived without getting bit. Its going to be a long process but I'm determined to get there in the end.

hang in there kid . ds went through a phase of this at about the same age, & i was consistent in telling him no but basically he just grew out of it. and look at him now . take care & see you soon.

And how are you going to tackle your Sister? She's not really playing fair, is she?

its my mums 50th birthday tomorrow so we are all gettign together so I guess I'll have to start the conversation then as she will be having them both on mon and tues. I think I'll start by asking her what does she think we should do about it and then make some suggestions to her, I think we will be able to sort it out with out falling out!