Ds keeps biting me

[HoggleHoggle]

Ds is 14 months and always been a bit of a biter. I know a lot of this is normal development so haven't been overly concerned, however the last few days the biting has definitely been done in anger. Previously it has mostly been done through frustration (he's not talking yet, and has only just started walking properly), with the occasional bite as a way to get a rise. He's always had a forceful personality, shall we say.

However I've just done the bath time from hell. He always likes to gad about like a maniac and I cajole him into his pyjamas/brush his teeth etc. But tonight when these normal things were happening, he got cross and bit me incredibly hard, twice on my arm and once across my hand. The one on my hand was pure rage, it actually shocked me.

He was particularly tired this evening and has yet another cold so I know these things will take their toll. That being said I'm seeing a trend here and I want to nip angry biting in the bud sharpish. Has anyone dealt with this successfully? I usually calmly but firmly say 'no biting' and if it's very hard I will pretend to cry so he knows he's hurt me. He immediately gives me a cuddle so he is registering this. But the angry biting I think is serious and I want to make sure I'm handling it right from the start, if at all possible. I've heard that you shouldn't make a big deal out of it as they pick up on the reaction and repeat it, but I really don't want my otherwise lovely son to think it's in any way ok to bite people when things don't go his way. And apart from anything else it bloody hurts!

I understand you think he is doing it to be naughty but frustration can replicate anger. Is he teething? Have you noticed a pattern? Does he do it more when his teeth are sore?

My dd was a bit of a biter.....and she also, at a similar age, started slapping people across the face! Even my mum when she carried her! We would just put her down and hold her shoulders and say very firmly "we do not bite" and after a few weeks, it worked. After reprimanding her, we would try and ignore her for a bit so she had time on her own.

Oh dear - sounds painful Is it just you or does he do it to others?

Of course you must continue to tell him firmly that biting is wrong and hurts people and re-enforce that we should be kind and gentle to each other. Maybe talk to him afterwards about why he got upset and wanted to hurt you. Story books can help, if you can find something along the right lines.

He's quite young to control these strong emotions himself without some help, so can you work out what triggers it and limit this a bit? Would he be better without a bath when tired/under the weather? Is he getting overtired and needs an occasional quiet day/early night? Bless him, this age is tough for lots of kiddies and their parents but mostly these things will pass in time xx

Thanks so much both. He has just got 3 of his first molars and tends to get more bitey when teething, so I wonder if another few are on the way.

The biting on this occasion was every time I stopped him doing something (reasonable, like climbing the loo!) so I think he was just tired and pissed off. I will keep reiterating 'no biting'. He knew he'd gone too far after the last bite and wanted a cuddle, so I should remind myself that he's biting from instinct and it's not premeditated.

He does only bite me, but I am also worried that he might extend this to other people especially children, if I'm not clear about things now.

verbena I'm hoping no face slapping starts! I think I'd be so shocked I'd find it funny the first time then it would quickly wear off...

I still have ds's bite marks this morn, the little terror.

Your ds is very young so I think he will 'grow out' of it providing you are firm and consistently show him you are not pleased with that behaviour. I would do what Verbena37 does.
I think it will stop within a week or two.