[zane'smama]

lately my munchkin has started biting. He has only done this a couple of times and I think it is when he is hungry, but I want to know what my reaction should be and how to prevent this before it gets worse. My mom says I should smack his hand, but I don't want to start on that route.
thanks

 

[alison_in_oh]

Here's a post I recently responded to in Life With a Babe: http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...d.php?t=691547

If they're mad and biting in a retaliatory fashion and drawing blood when they're 2-3, then maybe you need to focus on discipline and/or making the behavior go away. But with a little baby under a year old, it's just another way they are figuring out how these bodies of theirs work. Try to help them learn control (which I personally hope will help them NOT to draw blood when they are older and retaliatory!) but otherwise, you kind of just have to accept that it's a phase.

 

[bl987ue]

At that age, you really can't expect them to understand that biting hurts. All you can do is get out of the way of their choppers!

 

[misseks]

I agree. If it seems to be a frustration thing, then try to give a soothing talk (ie gentle mouth, gentle hands) but other than that, just lots of kisses and model good kind soft behaviour!

 

[alegna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl987ue At that age, you really can't expect them to understand that biting hurts. All you can do is get out of the way of their choppers!

-Angela

 

[lildevilgrrrl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl987ue At that age, you really can't expect them to understand that biting hurts. All you can do is get out of the way of their choppers!

Don't want to hijack this thread, but my 11mo is biting and it's definately in anger! I'm at a complete loss and interested in any thoughts on the subject. He's biting other children when something doesn't go his way. If an older child takes a toy or tries to hold him and he doesn't want to be held. Or if I pick him up because he slipped past me and is headed full speed for danger. I try my best to work with the older children on this. Meaning I remind them to plaese not take toys away from the baby, tell them that the baby doesn't want to be held and show them earlier signs of his body language that tells them he doesn't like it before he escilates to biting, but I obviously want to help my son learn that biting is not an appropraite reaction.