Repeated, unprovoked biting - dreading taking ds to nursery today!

[ruthydd]

...thats it really. ds2 was bitten twice yesterday. First time was really bad, so I was really shocked to find out it happened again in the afternoon. Its the same 17month old biter. There was a spell of it before that passed but that was only about a month ago so I'm annoyed that nursery haven't been watching more closely. I know its impossible to watch all of the all the time, but this is getting ridiculous. How badly does he have to be injured before they take more drastic action ?

My son is 13m btw and now has 2 huge scabs on either cheek. If I didn't have to go to work today I'd be keeping him at home.

Bites that break the skin are really hard bites. Is the perpetrator only biting your DS? Or other people's kids too? Any chance of separating them at nursery a bit?

Your poor DS, and poor you.

They separated them before, and that seemed to work. Thats what I assumed they would do yesterday after the first incident. He does seem to target my son for no known reason (and its completely unprovoked).

He's been bitten on the face?!? That's awful- i'd have a strong word with the staff to be honest. When one of my brothers went through a phase of biting everyone, my mother bit him back as a last resort (not breaking the skin!) and it stopped him...probably shouldn't go biting other people's kids though

He's been bitten 4 times in total - 1 on the nose and 3 on his cheeks. The first 2 only left slight marks. Yesterdays are really bad!

If the injuries happened at home, nursery would be reporting me to social services!

Can anyone recommend any books/strategies for dealing with the biter?

Mother has texted me to apologise! I've already replied with general sympathy/understanding, but it sounds like perhaps she should be doing more. Don't think I'll suggest she bite him back though!

the nursery needs to watch the biter more closely and be ready to intervene

short sharp 'no biting' and removal from the situation for a couple of minutes

you are right in appreciating that it is a natural stage of development for many children and there is no evil intention behind it .. it is just so difficult when your child is the 'victim'

Thanks everyone. Off to nursery now ... eeeeeek!