12 month old biting other children

[SixNumbersAway]

My lovely daughter has been a fairly placid and easy baby. She has just turned one and overnight has turned into a bit of a demon child.

From being quite shy and reserved around other children she has suddenly developed a new found confidence (coinciding with her starting nursery). While I'm pleased that she is a bit more self assured I'm also concerned as she is quite vicious which includes biting other children. She wades straight in, mouth open seeing what she can sink her teeth into.

I'm not the most confident or outgoing person and hate being the centre of attention. Attending a new baby group today I found myself sitting there, scarlet, as she managed to set most of the room off crying having bitten one child and pulled the hair of another faster than I could get up off the floor and extract her. It's made worse by the fact she then stands and laughs (loudly) at the chaos she has caused.

She is a sweet child really. She has never seen or been around any form of violence (my husband and I rarely even argue). She is my first and has no cousins or other relatives of a close age.

Has anyone got any tips as to how I can stop this sort of behaviour.

Also, please reassure me that it is just a phase and that others have had similar experiences.

Yup just a phase. My ds bit me a few times but thankfully didn't find other children so tasty. He was certainly gnawed upon a few times though! I think most parents are absolutely fine about this behaviour in other children as long as the parent is really on the ball and stops it right away. Until she grows out of it you will have to follow her around very closely. Catch her before she sinks her teeth in if at all possible and move her on but if you're too late, say firmly "no dd we don't bite," apologise and distract dd. It's annoying to have to monitor her so closely but if you don't you will really get other parents' backs up.

Thanks, I'm kind of glad that others have come across or had experience of this. I'm just worried about not always intercepting it quick enough and people getting upset with us.

My DS2 did this. It was a bit of a shock as DS1 was always very very good around other children and so gentle. DS2 actively sought people out to snatch off and bite. It was horrible to watch and I hated being that mother of the biter . I do sympathise.

All we did is keep removing him when he looked like he was going to bite or getting to rough etc. If he did bite I always removed him with a firm 'NO! We don't bite.' then paid a lot of attention to the child or baby he'd bitten whilst blushing and apologising endlessly to the parents .

Eventually (slowly) it worked, either that or he is outgrowing it naturally anyway. He's 20 months now and rarely bites. He's getting much better at sensing the urge when he wants to bite and not doing it. I see him approach his brother with his mouth open but instead of biting now he'll just do this open mouthed kiss thing and then go and bite a cushion or his teddy. Not ideal but he obviously feels the need to bite on things and is trying to control it.

I really hope he fully out grows it soon. I think a lot of it is caused through frustration and as his language improves, his temperament is too!

Please ignore 'helpful' advice from people telling you to bite your child back. (Not saying you'll have people say that but I can't count the number of people who have recommended this to me) It just leaves me open mouthed at the cruelty and stupidity of some people. Just be firm and consistent and know that she will outgrow it.

DD is 12 months and a biter! She has, so far, only bitten DH and I. If she bites we put her on the floor and sign as well as say No very sharply. She tends to cry. She gets a cuddle after a minute.