1 year old son biting

[Flissity83]

My one year old has started biting when angry and grinding his teeth really hard I think he's going to break them. Obviously I can't tell him off at this age but how do I stop it. I have some nasty puncture wounds because of it.

I think most one year olds go through this.

I took the view that if they were to do something bad with their mouths they needed to be trained out of it in a way that they could make the connection.

So, every time they bit someone, it I immediately gave my children something bad to eat as a punishment. It wasn't actually bad for them (or painful etc), they just didn't like the taste and I only gave them 1/4 of a teaspoon's worth.

They quickly got the message that biting meant this unpleasant thing in their mouths and stopped. After a while, just opening their jaws to bite, would be enough to take a quick glance over at me and decide to think again. They also tried to punish each other with it when they believed their sibling had crossed the line.

I stopped after a few months when the biting stopped completely, but they still hate that foodstuff though...!

That's a good idea. I'll purée up some Brussel sprouts ready...

Thank you.

You actually can tell him off even at 1. A cross voice saying no,remove his toys for a minute or so, they get the idea quite quickly.

marmite was my one!

Please don't go with the idea of giving him something unpleasant in his mouth when he bites. That's one of the most bizarre things I've heard as a "strategy" to manage behaviour! How is he ever going to trust you with food if sometimes you give him something horrible to eat?

At this age, you need to be consistent and firm with undesirable behaviour. I he bites you, say calmly but firmly "no biting, it hurts" and then put him down. Walk away for a few moments, and then carry on as normal. If he bites another child then do the same, but also make a great fuss over the bitten child.

It may seem like it isn't working but it's a long term process and he will get there in the end. Something that helped with me and my DS was getting a book called "Teeth are not for Biting" and reading it together a lot, just to reinforce the message.

The teeth grinding is alarming, but will stop soon enough. It seems to be connected to teething, and there isn't much you can do about it.

We've got the same problem - I posted about this a few days ago (look a bit further down this forum).
Yes, you can tell him off. In our case it is showing some effect already. We just look in his eyes and then say "X, we don't bite" in a very stern voice. We then remove attention from him for a very short while. Generally this results in him crying or looking downwards in a rather ashamed way. So he is realising he is doing something wrong.
Good luck... let me know if you are having any success!

The Brussel sprout purée was in semi jest. I think I will try the stern approach. At the moment he giggles which is hard but I suppose it will start to sink in. It's just upsetting to see him get angry and frustrated.

Any chance it is teething? Mine was doing it only when his teeth/mouth hurt.

11 years on and mine don't have food issues, except with marmite unfortunately (and fresh tomatoes - nothing to do with me).

They are well-mannered, mature, reliable, sensible, easy going children who get glowing school reports and are always invited back on repeat visits to other children's houses.

So, i don't think its done them any harm and they are growing up into well-adjusted people! I didn't just use marmite but I felt that it was wrong to use language to discipline them before they had verbal language too.

They really have no concept of pain in others at that age. And they are easily frustrated and quick to lash out. They need to learn that it is inappropriate and the natural consequences of the behaviour. As Embarrassed says, being stern/sad, moving away/putting down, all attention to the bitten child. Plus simple phrases like "no biting" and modelling gentle hands and kissing will all reinforce the message. Certainly you don't want them to learn to make choices based on a desire to avoid you pouring unpleasant food into their mouths.

At a year old receptive language is usually much better than expressive language, and so it's perfectly normal to explain things with words at this age. Particularly if it's something as simple as "no biting, biting hurts".

www.ahaparenting.com/ask-the-doctor-1/how-to-stop-baby-from-biting-parents

Some ideas here. Please don't do the food thing.

If it has just recently started could well be teething. Give something he likes to bite on wooden toys teething rings.

I also support the other approach remove attention. No or no bitting no explanation of why . He won't understand and is more words attention.. Attention is attention - not positive or negative to a baby.

I actually thought today it could be teething so funny you should mention it. He was dribbling a lot today so will keep an eye out for some new pearly whites. Today I have gone with the approach of explaining calmly that biting hurts and he looked like he was trying to listen. I don't want to be a shouty mum so it has to start now. Thank you for all your help.

The teeth can be painful if they are growing under the gum line but hopefully one is about to pop through at it will go away for now.

Just a word of warning. If you go into a long explanation at 1 you are simply giving attention. You really don't need to shout at him but you do need your firm voice.