Biter---Really Need To Curb It!

[SimpleMom]

I have one biter and another on the way (the one that's the target of the bitting). Today, they almost broke skin!!! Ugh. I've tried a lot. Not sure what else to do and wondering what other ideas are out there?

The biter is 1 1/2 yrs old. Been about 6m. Very oral orientated. Thinking maybe a paci or a teething ring? I've been seperating the biter when I can't be right there. Today, they were just playing around and then BAM! Right in front of me. Totally took me by surprise.

[MarinaVanessa]

Wow, biting is always tough because even when you're right there with them you can't always catch them. Have you tried shadowing? And when I mean shadowing I mean that the child who bites HAS to be right next to you at all times.

I had an issue with this too a while back and the only thing that worked with this child was having him right next to me at all times. After talking with the DCM we resorted to EXTREME measures and I put him in a harness backpack and would attach him to my belt-loop. He was not able to get more than 5 feet away from me. Every day we started fresh and every day that he would bite or attempt to bite I would put the harness on him. He didn't like having to stop playing when it was time for me to serve meals or change a diaper because he had to follow me so he finally gave up biting.

This child did it out of frustration whenever another child had something that he wanted. There were no other triggers and nothing else that I tried seemed to help.

[Heidi]

keep him seperate unless he is RIGHT next to you, and attach a teething ring to his shirt with a paci strap. Every time he TRIES to bite anyone, say "bite this", and put it by his mouth.

By seperate I mean playpen, bouncer, or high chair. Still have to watch, though, because for some reason, other kids will go get bit on purpose sometimes!

By with you, I mean on your lap or right next to you, with your main intention being to "catch him" in the act. That's the time to say "NO DCB, we do not bite people. bite this..."

[Ariana]

The only thing that really works is shadowing the biter. Even then it's hard because as soon as you turn your back for 5 seconds they strike! We went through this at a centre with 3 teachers and it was still difficult to curb it. It's very important to seperate him from the target and find out what's causing the biting and intervene before the bite (this is te hard part because sometimes there's no reason!!)

There is a book called "teeth are not for biting" you might want to check out?