DD, who just turned 2, goes into a shaking panic anytime she thinks I am about to take something or limit something for her. Then she will bite what she can't have or whatever is closest to her (hopefully it isn't me!). The funnest has been when I have to close the dishwasher because she is trying to stand on the door when I'm loading the dishes. She actually bites the dishwasher! And then won't let go.
I try hard to not laugh but it is just hilarious to see such a small child with her teeth wrapped around the corner of my dishwasher.
When I need to set limits I try my best to do it calmly and in a straight forward non-reactive way. Unless it is something really dangerous I try to move slowly and explain what I am doing. I don't grab things from her (at least I really try not to) but give her the opportunity to put the item back in its home or trade me for something else. If she wants to stand on the dishwasher door I pull up a chair she can stand on instead. But often she just panics. Her whole body shakes and then she bites down. I wish I knew how to help her diffuse that energy. There are many times I don't even need to take the item from her or stop the activity, we just need to make an adjustment. If she just trusted me she would see it won't be so bad and we will find a different way for her to do what it is she is wanting to do. But the panic just comes so fast. I can feel how overwhelming it is for her... like an instinct. I'm sure she will outgrow it in time... I just hope her teeth survive the large kitchen appliances!
I try hard to not laugh but it is just hilarious to see such a small child with her teeth wrapped around the corner of my dishwasher.When I need to set limits I try my best to do it calmly and in a straight forward non-reactive way. Unless it is something really dangerous I try to move slowly and explain what I am doing. I don't grab things from her (at least I really try not to) but give her the opportunity to put the item back in its home or trade me for something else. If she wants to stand on the dishwasher door I pull up a chair she can stand on instead. But often she just panics. Her whole body shakes and then she bites down. I wish I knew how to help her diffuse that energy. There are many times I don't even need to take the item from her or stop the activity, we just need to make an adjustment. If she just trusted me she would see it won't be so bad and we will find a different way for her to do what it is she is wanting to do. But the panic just comes so fast. I can feel how overwhelming it is for her... like an instinct. I'm sure she will outgrow it in time... I just hope her teeth survive the large kitchen appliances!
