My dd is 22 months old and since about 16 months she started biting. She used to bite me, dh and other children. 6 months on she definately bites less, doesn't bite me anymore but will still try and lunge at dh. I've alsways been consistent in telling her off if she does it. I tell her really firmly "NO BITING" and drag her to the nearest corner where I repeat it and then I ignore her whilst I check on the other child. She stays still and always looks really sad about it - after a couple of mins I go and get her and she has to say sorry to the other child by giving them a kiss and giving them a particular toy that she is playing with at the time before the biting happened.
At the local toddler group I watch her like a hawk. But today she was too quick and after a quick scuffle with a little boy - she lunged at him and bit his face!!!!!! It was a really nasty bite and it drew blood.
Has anybody got any advice about how to try to manage it? Am I doing things ok? A couple of people have said to bite her back but I feel I want her to know that biting is completely unnacceptable and it's something or family wouldn't do.
My dh and I are so mellow so I don't know why she is so feisty. She'll happily initiate a scrap with an older child and usually wins. She can't be copying me and dh never argue (we just sulk at each other!) so she never hears even a raised voice at home.
Anbody had a similar experience - will this phase end and how did you manage it?
Help!