A biting 22 monthd old?

Question

My son is 22 months old and has started a nasty habit of biting! His main victim is his 3 year old sister, and myself and husband once or twice. The bites are nasty as he draws blood. Any tips for preventing this behaviour? We have tried time out, ignoring him and even a smack on the hand but nothing seems to help. Pls dont say bite him back coz trhat wont be happening!!!!

Answer 1

What sort of situation usually brings about this behavior? Sharing? Jealousy? Excitement?

I would try to determine what sort of conditions seem to incite the biting, and then try to replace the biting with some other sort of behavior, such as encouraging him to use a certain word or phrase to express his feelings.

Also, I know you said you don't believe in biting him back, but if you cannot determine a pattern in his behavior it may be the best solution. I wouldn't draw blood or anything... just hard enough to let him know what he is doing is uncomfortable and will not be tolerated.

Answer 2

my son did the exact same thing;

and i tried everything!

for him it was just a phase that he went through;

maybe it's the same for your son?

&& my MIL told me to try thr biting back thing;& i personally think if u bite a child back then they think it's okay;i mean "mommy bit me;so i can bite her" right? lolz

good luck =]

Answer 3

As soon as this offense occurs, immediately tell the child "no biting, biting hurts", and administer several calm,  but firm swats to his backside with a wooden spoon, or something similar to it. After the spanking, repeat to him that biting will not be tolerated. If you are consistent, you will break his will to bite, and it will eventually stop.

Answer 4

When my son went threw this we would firmly tell him, "No biting. Do not bite" and then sit him on the corner of the couch and just walk out that room into the next room. I never left him in there for more then one minute but the act of telling him no and then him watching me leave him alone and be away from him when he did it was enough to break him of the habit. My 19 month old daughter recently did the same thing. Once to me and several times to her father. We used the same technique and she hasn't bitten recently. Maybe it worked again!

Answer 5

At this age, biting usually means he feels powerless and overwhelmed, and he doesn't have enough coping skills or emotional resources yet to be able to tell anybody or get help or take up for himself.

React swiftly! when he bites.  Immediately to Time Out and enforce it with very strong firmness in your voice.  Do not coax and encourage him to go to Time Out himself -- pick him up and carry him and plunk him down (firm, not hard).  Let him know that biting will not be tolerated.  If you are so inclined, a swat with your hand on the behind will not damage him in any way.  Then, go back to the victim and be VERY visibly and audibly concerned about their injury.  When he sees this he will be able to compare what happens to him and what happens to his victim, and he will not like it!  After two minutes in Time Out (with a timer! one minute per year of age), go get him and speak kindly, explaining that if he's angry, he's to do "this" (choose what you want him to do-- come get you, or daddy, or shout, or if he can talk, use his words to say what's wrong.)  then he should apologize to his victim -- if he can't talk yet, he should pat or stroke the place he bit, gently like a kitten, and perhaps make the ASL sign for "sorry" (fist in small circle on chest) while you speak for him "sorry".

Answer 6

My 19 month old sister has the same problem, only she scratches, pulls hair, and or slaps you.  She does this because she wants attention. Children this age cannot distinguish between positive and negative attention, so to them, they will do what ever it takes to get attention.   When she does this, we say things like "bad" and if she does it again, we look away from her and ignore her.  She sees that she is not getting any attention from these actions, so she stops.  On the flip side, when she gives us a hug or kiss or any other nice actions, we give her lots of attention, such as soft words or rubbing her back.