My one year old won’t stop biting

[Ellebel]

Hi- I have a 13 month old who has always been a little bitey but it is getting quite stressful. At nursery it seems to be happening daily, often more than once- and every time it does they make an incident report and I’m just told about the biting that happened that day every pick up. It always feels like the only focus and feedback. I always thought this was a pretty normal behaviour to be honest, but it seems he’s the only biter at nursery, which isn’t helping! Sometimes it’s pretty unavoidable I.e another baby puts their finger in his mouth. But sometimes he will just waddle up and bite someone for no reason, other times he wants their toy. So it seems to be developing into an aggressive bite at times, which is giving me extra anxiety. I now get nervous in the park/ soft play etc every time he approaches another child and it’s starting to take its toll.

Things I have tried:
Teething gels/ granuals (he has 8 teeth I am endlessly assuming more about to pop through)
I have a literal graveyard of chew toys- no interest.
Every time he bites saying- no biting and walking away from him

Am wondering if we should see a dentist? Cranial osteopath?!

If anyone has any advice or tips at all I’d be ever so grateful- thank you!

Sympathies from here. One of mine was a biter, and I look after my grandson who is also a biter, and I work in Special Ed where we have many biters who take longer than NT children to grow out of it.

The good news is.. they DO grow out of it, but in the meantime, yes it's awful.

My grandson has mostly bitten his main carers.. his Mum, and me, occasionally his dad and has only actually managed to sink his teeth into another child a couple of times.

In every case he's either been frustrated or very very excited. Our technique has been a very clear sharp NO when the teeth get near us, and he's put down/ we walk away.
At social groups we spent a year watching him like a hawk.. literally by his side so that at the slightest hint of frustration we would redirect him.

Aged 1-2 was the worst.. but since his 2nd birthday and with much better understanding and speech becoming much better he has just about stopped. He's 2 and 5 months now, and it looks like the worst is over :)

I don't think it's teeth related for most biters.. it's a combo of frustration, lack of impulse control and sensory input. Biting (if you are a biter ) FEELS GOOD.

Confession time... I'm 55 years old, and I was a biter. And I can STILL remember how much I enjoyed biting..and tbh I would still quite like to bite people who annoy me,.. however I haven't bitten anyone since I was tiny!

Just keep saying no.. and never laugh or find it funny. BUT if he is biting that often at Nursery... nursery are not taking good care of him or the others. How on EARTH are they letting a tiny toddler bite that often???? I'd be considering moving him to somewhere where they are more observant . They KNOW he bites, why are they not monitoring and intervening?!

@Sonolanona thanks so much for your response. Reassuring to know it will end even if 2 years old feels a very long way off right now!

It definitely seems like his biting is out of excitement or frustration too. Will stick to the firm no and walk away and hope for the best.

Agree- would be more helpful if the nursery were more hands on, we live in centralish London where nursery wait lists can be 2 years long!! So going to have to stick where we are but will def be asking them for more intervention and support!