Techniques for 1 yo starting to bite in frustration

[anyalily]

My little belle is almost 1 and has bitten me in frustration a few times, usually when I am physically moving her out of harm's way.

I want to start GD right with this and nip it in the bud - pun intended. I say "ouch, that hurt mama" but I can't always put her down like when we are on the bus or tram. Yesterday she bit me so hard on the arm that I yelled and handed her to her dad so I could get over the shock. She cried. Poor baby.

What do you all do for a 1 year old who bites out of frustration? I think it is the only thing she can do when she is being moved against her will but it is obviously not a great technique for her to learn.

[ewe+lamb]

How about doing sign language with her? It's really about the perfect age to start and takes away SO much frustration. Can you give her a toy that could be her biting toy and the ONLY thing that she is allowed to bite? Also, just one thing, before removing your dd from whatever situation do you let her know what you are going to do before you do it, if not, it could just be the fact that she doesn't know what's going on. Hope this helps, my ds was a biter and I found that these things helped - especially the sign language, which he still enjoys using at almost 4 so it's a good skill to have under you belt anyway. Hope this has helped some.

I also just wanted to mention that some kids just can't help biting or scratching - it's a very primitive thing to do, in fact I remember when ds was just come up to 2 and we were visiting his cousins, the youngest one at the time would scratch ds terribly whenever he had the chance and in fact one time I saw him running after ds with his hands shaped as claws ready to pounce - it was very interesting to watch - from a anthropological pov but disturbing at the same time as my son was the prey!!! I did manage to save him most of the time but wow he looked like he had been dragged through a rose bush when we left!!! Anyway I got slightly OT with that - but thought that it may be interesting to you that some kids just can't help it, but the signing really makes a big difference - most of the time

[anyalily]

Thanks! I will start warning her when I am about to pick her up. I think that will help.

We do a little sign... Milk, etc. What signs would you recommend focusing on or starting with to help her express herself in this type of situation? Want, toy, window, etc...?

Thanks so much!

[ewe+lamb]

Well maybe start with the emotion signs letting her tell you that she is happy, angry, sad etc. The other thing we did was draw on paper plates different facial expressions - used alot from the emoticons - lol, and stuck them around the flat and then the kids could point to them - not so practical when we're out but at home that worked really well too.