We never had to deal with this with Eliot so I'm at a lost on what to do to stop Ian from biting :shuffle:

I have been putting my hand over his mouth (not pressing just gently over it) while telling him in a stern voice not to bite.

He seems to only bite Eliot & me... I have a big bruise on my arm from the last time he sneaked on me and bit me and I feel so bad for Eliot who gets most of them and I'm so proud of him for not getting back at his little brother for it.

He's just started doing this a few weeks ago and since he's starting MDO in Sept I'm afraid that if I don't nip it in the butt now we'll have some trouble with him biting one of his classmates :errr:

So, if you have/had a biter or have any suggestions please share... I want to end this silly little stage (or whatever it is) really, really soon!!! :shuffle:

I should add that I make him give Eliot a kiss & hug and I also tell him that it makes brother sad when he gives him a boo-boo.

Courtney is a biter... BAD sometimes. She is 28 months old. Whenever she bites, she gets an immediate time out in her crib, away from everyone. It seems to be working b/c her biting stopped pretty much until a rare incident last week where she bit Caroline, hard, but she was provoked.

Thanks Bonnie! I might have to try time outs, we haven't really used them much with him but I know that he's definitely not gonna like being taken away from everybody else as a consequence of biting :aok:

About the same time Julia went through a biting stage...it's pretty normal. The best thing you can do when the sibling is the target is lavish attention on the victim. So instead of giving Ian negative attention (making him give a hug and kiss and spending time and giving him your attention to tell him that Eliot gets hurt by the boo-boos), give ALL the attention to Eliot as the victim - go OVERBOARD. Make a HUGE deal out of Eliot being hurt, hold him, rock him, do whatever you can to show Ian that this is NOT the way to get your attention - cause that's likely what he's trying to get by biting (and it's working!).

Another thing is try to figure out WHY he is biting...is it that he's trying to get your attention? Is he mad about something? Is he frustrated at his lack of being able to verbalize a feeling? Is he just getting too excited? If you can figure out which is the case, you can probably identify the cues that it's coming and try to redirect him before it happens.

Timeouts could possibly work but he is probably just a hair young for them yet IMO.

Good luck - whatever you do, remember it really IS just a phase. I feel for you - it's frustrating (and upsetting) - I remember! :bighug:

Sam was a terrible biter but has finally grown out of it.We did everything already mentioned, but really nothing worked (sorry!) except for waiting for him to grow out of it :dunno:

Mason never really bit at all except when he was under a year. Graham is only 10 months but seems to really like biting. I have 2 bruises on my arms where most of them occur.

I usually say "OUCH!" in a loud voice because it startles me and hurts and then he starts crying. I say "Don't you cry! You bit me!" Then I say "Teeth are for smiling at people not for biting people."

He has no idea what I'm saying but I like starting the message early. :lol:

Suzi, thanks for all the great suggestions! :aok:

Clare, I didn't want to hear that! :lol:

Bev, starting early can't hurt, right? :)

I'm gonna try Suzi's suggestions since I tried the time out this morning and he didn't seem to be bothered by it at all... I was afraid that he was too young for t/o and it seems like that's true.

Well, we have tried the ignoring him tactic but it hasn't been working much.
Sometimes we're just playing around, laughing and all and then he turns around and bites! Not like he was being ignored, hurt or anything else like that. The other day I was thinking that maybe he thinks is a way to tell us he's having a good time or that he loves us??? What a way to show love!!! :screwy:
I just hope it passes soon!! In the midtime we'll just keep reminding him that it hurts people and that kisses & hugs are better :nod:

I think that's right that it's his way of showing affection. Sam used to bite us when he was excited or happy too. I think you just have to be consistent in telling him no, stop the fun immediately and lavish lots of attention on the bitee and non on the biter.

OMG Clare, I'm so glad to hear that! I thought I was stretching it (or losing it) when that thought came into my mind!!
Definitely I will keep the not giving him attention when he acts that way :nod: