[quelindo]

I guess my babe is a toddler now, right?

Anyway, he has this terrible habit of biting -- he'll take clothing, blankets, whatever in his teeth and pull. Sometimes he bites through my clothing and gets me hard. I don't think he really intends to bite me when he does this, though. However, he also will lean in and gingerly take my skin in his teeth, or put his open mouth on my skin, like he's trying to see how far he can go with that.

Sometimes I have to put him down if I'm holding him because I feel like he's attacking me! I tell him, "No!" or "Please stop!" or "That hurts Mama!" and he just leans in and does it again.

:

Anyone else's one-year old do this? Is there anything I can do beyond redirecting and distracting? Does it indicate a need for something else? When does this stage end?

 

[Bensma]

Yes, I'm sorry to add that my 19 month old does this and sounds like the same behavior, although now that he's older he thinks it's even funnier. I don't think he "gets" the "that hurts Mom" or at least he thinks that hurting Mom is a bit of a game. I used to put him down and walk away when he bit, but now he bits BECAUSE he wants to get down...so I started holding him with arms in tight as an attempted time-out. It makes him cry, but does he know it's because of the bite??? Hard to say. He seems to understand so many other things and will often give me a hug or kiss where he bit, but unfortunately I think that's all part of the "game".

I wish I had better ideas for you, but whenever I've posted about biting, I'm just directed to Dr. Sears' list of advice, which has not worked for us yet.

Hoping this too will pass.

 

[DaisyQDuck]

I can't offer much help but my dd, 13 months, does exactly the same thing.

 

[amydidit]

My 14mth old hasn't started biting everything, but she loves to pinch. When she does I always respond with a quick "Ouch! That hurt!"... not angry sounding or anything, but quick enough that she connects it with the pinching. I've told everyone in the family to always say the same thing, and it's working. It hasn't stopped her from doing it completely, but she isn't doing it as often anymore. We're planning on doing the same thing if she starts biting.

 

[hottmama]

My 8 mo. old is a biter too! He only has 2 teeth but he has drawn a lot of blood with those chompers! I think it's caused partially by teething and partially because he thinks it's funny to get a reaction from it. I have just started paying close attention whenever his mouth gets anywhere near my skin and distracting him. When he does get me, I say "OUCH! No biting!" I think it's starting to work, maybe?

 

[cherubess]

Yes my DS is a biter as well as a pincher.

When I notice that his mouth is on my skin or clothes I just try and not let him in the situation where he can bite me.

One time I was sure he drew blood ... but he didn't.

I don't believe that he understands at 12 months old that he hurts me by biting or pinching.

 

[Lula's Mom]

Subbing so I can hopefully get good advice, too... Sorry I have none to give.

My ds is 20 months and just started biting! It's horrible! It started a few weeks ago with hugging. He sees another young child and gets very excited. "Baby! baby!" he squeals, with a big smile on his face. He runs toward them. He grabs them in a bear hug. And now, recently, he has added a bite to his routine.

It's as if he loves them so much he wants to taste them...

We tell him no, it gives X a booboo, ow, it hurts, all that stuff. And I know he understands me, as he uses those same words whenever he sticks his hand in the puppy's mouth and she nibbles him. A few months ago he was trying out biting my nipple while nursing, but he got the clue when I'd stand up and walk away.

Now he doesn't bite anyone but 'babies'! I felt so bad for my friend's little girl the first time he did this. We were all just standing there together, and suddenly she was howling and clutching her chest.... well, we lifted her shirt and he had bitten her hard on the nipple. Then he seemed to be obsessed with her, and bit her on the back a minute later! I spent the rest of our time together just herding him away from her. Poor little girl. Later that evening he tried to bite another little girl on the top of her head!

Now I'm afraid for him to be around small children.

I know it's a phase a lot of kids go through. I keep telling myself it will pass.