Baby biting

[Yikesivedoneitagain]

I'm feeling quite distressed today as my 8 month old baby is biting me so frequently. I have little bruises all down my arms, and today he has done a really big bite which came up immediately.

He does it when tired/frustrated, and really giggles right at me when he does it. Sometimes I yelp in pain, sometimes I say no but I don't know what the right thing to do is!

I feel your pain, literally. DD went through this phase at about 9/10 months and she really bloody chomped down hard! Don't pull away when they bite as you'll tear or bruise your skin more, just gently push into the bite and that's usually enough for them to stop pretty quickly. The only thing that made DD stop completely was when I pretended to cry after a really hard bite on my shoulder one morning, she cried too I felt so bad but she never did it again after that. Cause and effect lesson maybe? Might be worth a try if you think he'd get it?

Thank you, I will give the pushing rather than pulling a go.

I googled it and people advise to bite baby back...!

I don't know he's even able to cognitively realise I'm a separate being from him/capable of feeling etc at the mo.

By that age I would just say no in a stern voice, not shouting as you will scare them, and move them away from you for a few seconds. Don't yell out if you can help it as thats a funny reaction and will make them keep doing it to get you too make that funny sound again.

Mine had 2 differnt types of biting one to make himslef laugh and one anger one, the anger one I just needed to stop him being angry, for him it was mostly that he wanted milk rather than solid food so was fairly easy. Have you noticed what triggers yours anger biting?

He has just drawn blood from my nipple. I said no loudly, and have put him in his cot. I need a minute now alone...! Don't want to be angry with him, and he is so cute he's alreaddy making me giggle, but I'm bleeding!

He bites when he is really tired and worked up - it's really hard to avoid this as I have a 3 year old, so we can't always stick exactly to baby's routine.

I feel I'm going to have to wean him - I can't be getting scabby nipples!

I have tried pretending to cry, he just giggles!

I would keep at it, if he wants milk and biting you means you take him off your boob and stop his milk he should learn to stop doing it.

It might be worth asking on the feeding topic about it as well though to get some more opinions.

I would say no low and firmly then either plonk dd straight on the floor, in the cot, or just turn her a little depending in the severity of the bite.

Putting him in the cot for a min every time he bites is sure to teach him it's not funny and there's no point in doing it.

Thank you so much. I tried putting him on the floor for a minute after he did it - and it seems there is nothing a baby dislikes more than being excommunicated for a minute or so! He has stopped biting me (though still bites others ) thank you again.

You're welcome glad its working for you.