Biting, how do I stop it?

[michaelad]

My ds2 (2 yrs old on thursday) is a real sweetie but has this rather terrible habit of biting everybody when he doesn't get what he wants. He's bitten me, even managed to draw blood when biting his older brother and has already bitten children in nursery on 3 occasions. I'm at my wits end! No idea where he gets it from. We have told him off numerous time, made him apologise and cuddle people afterwards. Even tried "the naughty step" approach. But nothing seems to work

Btw, he talks for England..so that rules out frustration because he can't vocalise his needs

I had this problem a few weeks ago with ds (4yrs in August) & someone suggested biting him back. It's not as crazy as it sounds! Just a little nip... no blood, of course. Worked a treat.

Hmmh..not too sure about nipping back.Afraid that might make it look like a fun game to him.

anybody?

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Say no firmly to him when he does it, and remove him from the situation. Maybe the cuddling, apologising etc is giving him positive attention for the biting when what he needs is to be ignored? Just an idea to try, god knows if it will work.

definitely wouldn't bit back - wouldn't that just teach him thats mummy does it too? Dong this at two is very differnt to 4 - he's just frustrated. My DS did this (18 months) but not to such a degree, I just kept saying no, ad nausem and moved him away from where he was to somewhere very boring. It did wrok but I had to persist.

Sorry no magic cure.

Do you tell him off anyway??
The reason I ask is that a friend of mine's son bites and the way she tells him not to do it is like a watery dishmop
IMO. you need to go down to his level immediately, really look into his eyes, point at him and then tell him off in no uncertain terms

Either shout or use low level voice, whichever is more unusual for you to do
The shock factor should do it

It's actually really hard to describe in writing so I hope this makes sense
Best of luck
X

I wouldn't bite back although I do pull lo's hair when he pulls mine and it does work. I would use exclusion - "no naughty" and in the play pen for a min or two.

thanks for all the comments so far! I really hope that I can find a way to stop this. He's such an adorable little boy (see profile)..if only I could stop him from doing this!

Keep the ideas coming!

Oh mu word - he's beautiful!! Couldn't resist a little look!

Try not to worry too much - sure all will be well by the time he leaves home!!
XX

Yes he is pretty cute. Don't worry he will grow out of it. It is very stressful to have a biting child as you keep expecting them to do it when you are out. He will stop though!

I know you are all going to jump on me for this but here goes.

DS1 went through the biting stage and we tryed various ways to stop him, telling him animals bite children don't, time outs, the lot,
In the end I bit him back, he has never bitten since that day.

TBH I think the method depends on the personalities of the child & the parent.

An example of a less controversial but equally effective method:

Ds bit dd on the shoulder & drew blood. I took firm hold of ds by the upper arm, marched him over to his sobbing sister & said firmly & angrily, "Look at what you've done to your sister! She's bleeding & hurting & it's because of you biting her! You MUST STOP biting people - it's very wrong! How would you like it if someone bit you?"

The idea of being bitten didn't go down well & that was more or less it.

Also v. important: why did ds bite? In our case, dd had been teasing him, winding him up, taking his toys, etc & his rage & frustration had got the better of him.