Biting... How to Stop it
By vkondrad
@vkondrad (47)
United States
August 4, 2009 6:20pm CST
Ok I have a wonderful 2 1/2 year old daughter who I love with all my heart and soul. I believe that she saved me when she came into this world.... ok that's besides the point... she's been biting me since she was about 6 months old. She doesn't usually bite anyone else. It started as biting while breast feeding then when she was frustrated or angry she would bite me as hard as she could (and put bruises on me) one time she even was so upset in her car seat that she bit herself as hard as she could and had a huge bruise on her arm for more than a week (try explaining that to daycare). I have tried it all, time outs, biting back, talking to her, telling her it hurts, pretend crying, yelling and ignoring her. The last thing I did I am hoping works...
I was making dinner and she came up to me pretending to be a kitty cat and came up behind me like she was going to hug me and bit me as hard as she could on my behind!! Wow that was a shocker I gotta tell you. So after I detached her from my behind I took her too her room and told her she had to stay there until she was done crying and would say she was sorry to me. About 10 minutes later she came out and said she was sorry. I told her that because she bit me she couldn't have juice that night that she had to have milk instead. She didn't like that idea but I think after hearing it all night (kayla... why are you drinking milk instead of juice... I bite Mommy on the Butt.... )Yup.
So what have you tried to make your children stop biting either yourself or others?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
6 Aug 09
I wouldn't go so far as to say that my son is a regular biter, but he has his moments when he does bite. When he does, the punishment that he receives depends on where we are.
For example, if we are at home he gets sent to his room for a long time out (usually turns into a nap). Or, yesterday he was trying to bite me while we were at gymnastics. We took a trip to the bathroom for an attitude adjustment. I smacked his cheek and told him that biting is not nice.
@neknek (249)
• Philippines
5 Aug 09
She'll outgrew it. I was fond of biting my sister too when I was a kid. I bite her either I'm annoyed with her or I just have the sudden urge to bite something. Be always firm about her to stop biting when she does. I think biting her back or pretending to be hurt will encourage her more. Even if it does hurt, feign indifference, just tell her to stop it because it's not nice. It won't work right away, but eventually it will.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
5 Aug 09
Biting occurs for a few reasons. One, they're angry or frustrated and don't know how to explain it, two, they lack the verbal skills necessary to explain someone why they feel the way they do. They don't quite understand emotions yet and yelling at or putting a 2 year old in time out because they're biting you without trying to help the child figure out why they're biting and explain it, so instead of biting they can say, hey I'm frustrated or hey I'm sad isn't going to help the situation.
Yes, children will eventually get past it, but the parents need to do more than time outs, yelling and ignoring. You have to become an observer. What causes her to bite the most? Anger, sadness, being tired, certain people or situations? Once you figure it out, you have to work hard to intervene before she reaches the point of wanting or needing to bite. Providing items for the child to bite after you work hard to help them verbalize their emotions can help redirect the biting attention from people to inanimate objects, such as a cool damp washclothe or even a baby teething toy.
It can be done but it will take a lot of patience to help verbalize their emotions and to help redirect the behavior!
@Pleiades (846)
• United States
5 Aug 09
Excuse me for just one moment...will you please?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!
Ok. Thank for waiting. =)
That was by far the funniest thing I've read in years and it took that angry negative stress I was feeling from my sweet precious babies and the crud they've put me through. Now...for your precious heart, kudos for you for having taught her how to say "I'm sorry". I wish my 12 and 14 year old would exercise that. My baby 18 month old sunk his little hamster teeth into the leg of his older brother today and needless to say, none of us are amused. You did the right thing, vkondrad and stuck to it. There's another kudos points!
Children scream and bite (I think) because it's another way for them to express themselves. I have a feeling you already know this but since your daughter is talking like she is, you can try to teach her how to explain her feelings and emotions. If not, give her a piece of celery to gnaw upon. Maybe she has an oral fixation and just needs to sink her teeth into a nice tender something. Surely your rump was the last item on the list.
I'll keep my eye out for other writings from you...hiliarious!
*Pleiades
@allisonbrk (155)
• United States
5 Aug 09
I used to work at a preschool and if we saw a child about to bite another child we would clap our hands together loudly and firmly, loudly, say "NO BITE!" as if we were talking to a dog. It shocks them and sometimes they cry, however it is the only time we were allowed to say "no" at that school and only because it was physical violence that could make other children sick, saliva/blood, etc. You can try that. Hopefully it works for you. Then try talking to her and really listen to what she is trying to say. A lot of times children bite because they don't know how else to say what they want to say.
@ruperi (138)
• India
5 Aug 09
yes, small childs are very tough to handle. The only way is we have to think like the. Means you also become like child. Then they will response more. if she bite you then you also bite her in light way. Then she will react like action and reaction. She will understand this is bad which pains to her then she will leave this habit naturally. So become natural means very simple like GOD. Who never take anything from us, just gives us. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
