How do I get an 11 month old to stop biting? Luckily he doesn't bite other kids...just me. I want to put a stop to it before he gets ahold of someone else. Any pointers?
He may be teething again...probably 1 year molars. Maybe try offering some new and different teethers/toys/safe everyday items like plastic measuring cups or plastic containers anytime he tries to bite you. Giving him a very simple explanation like..."we don't bite...biting hurts", followed up with redirecting him to another suitable teether may help him begin to understand biting people is not okay and curb his interest in biting you.
Around that age, my kids got bored with the typical teethers and really liked to explore other household objects like any of my reusable plastic containers/lids. I have a low kitchen cabinet, well within kid's reach, full of plastic containers/lids/plastic cups/shower curtain rings/plastic bowls. My kids loved to chew on them, bang them together, and totally empty out the whole cabinet. This was a great activity for them as I made dinner. Taking things out of containers is big time stuff at this age, so enjoy watching him explore :)
Lisa03 is right that he maybe teething. I used to teach preschool and worked with a lot of toddlers and twos who bite.
First thing to do is watch your reaction to him when he bites you. If you react strongly, he may continue to get the same reaction. Make sure that you have a neutral face, tell him "No, we do not bite Mommy.", put him down, hand him something that he can bite ("Here is something for you to bite on"), and then remove your attention from him. You have to continue with the same response each time and he will learn that if he wants your attention then he can not bite you. You are also reinforcing what is acceptable for him to bite.
Another really good idea is to create a "Bite and No Bite" book. Take a small photo album and fill it with pictures of food, teething toys, family members, friends, and pets. Sit down with him and read the book together. Title it Things we Bite and Things we don't bite". Show him each picture and say, "We bite apples, We bite blankies, we bite cookies, no bite Mommy, no bite doggie, no bite Kitty." Make a game of it and ask them with each picture as they get familiar with the pictures. You could even have seperate books for things to bite and things not to bite. This worked wonderful in our toddler room. It was the kids favorite book to read. They would point to the pictures and say, "No bite" and shake their heads or say, "Yes" shaking their heads yes when appropriate. It was so cute.
Lastly, you want to look at when he is biting. Is it when he is angry, frustrated, bored? Then redirect him in a mora appropriate way to express himself when he bites. Give him the words or signs to express his desires.
I hope this helps and sorry it's so long. If you have any more questions I am more than willing to help. After ten years of dealing with this I have learned a few tricks and tamed a lot of biters. : ) Even one of my own!
:) I'm totally joking! I have heard of people doing this with older kids who have biting issues, not for a baby though. I thought we were going to have biting issues with our now 13 month old, and it was right around the 10-11 month time, but it seems to have passed. I have to agree it may be teething. At that age, I would just pick a phrase like "no no, ouch, biting hurts" and repeat the same thing every time he bites.
Submitted by aligrl1010 on July 20, 2008 - 9:24pm.
I just know that I have a 12 year old and a 18mo. old. My 12 yeard did it when she was a baby and we figured out that when we would "play" monster on her tummy, or nibble on her ears she thought it was a term of affection and in turn started biting the babies at the baby sitters. My son did it for the same reason(i think) and we stopped the bitting "play" and he stopped the biting!I think, with him, he thought the reaction he got out of us was hysterical. We stopped reacting and would just put him down and walk away from him. It wasn' funny anymore when he got bored with our new reactions.
teething?
He may be teething again...probably 1 year molars. Maybe try offering some new and different teethers/toys/safe everyday items like plastic measuring cups or plastic containers anytime he tries to bite you. Giving him a very simple explanation like..."we don't bite...biting hurts", followed up with redirecting him to another suitable teether may help him begin to understand biting people is not okay and curb his interest in biting you.
Around that age, my kids got bored with the typical teethers and really liked to explore other household objects like any of my reusable plastic containers/lids. I have a low kitchen cabinet, well within kid's reach, full of plastic containers/lids/plastic cups/shower curtain rings/plastic bowls. My kids loved to chew on them, bang them together, and totally empty out the whole cabinet. This was a great activity for them as I made dinner. Taking things out of containers is big time stuff at this age, so enjoy watching him explore :)
Good luck....
Biting Ideas
Lisa03 is right that he maybe teething. I used to teach preschool and worked with a lot of toddlers and twos who bite.
First thing to do is watch your reaction to him when he bites you. If you react strongly, he may continue to get the same reaction. Make sure that you have a neutral face, tell him "No, we do not bite Mommy.", put him down, hand him something that he can bite ("Here is something for you to bite on"), and then remove your attention from him. You have to continue with the same response each time and he will learn that if he wants your attention then he can not bite you. You are also reinforcing what is acceptable for him to bite.
Another really good idea is to create a "Bite and No Bite" book. Take a small photo album and fill it with pictures of food, teething toys, family members, friends, and pets. Sit down with him and read the book together. Title it Things we Bite and Things we don't bite". Show him each picture and say, "We bite apples, We bite blankies, we bite cookies, no bite Mommy, no bite doggie, no bite Kitty." Make a game of it and ask them with each picture as they get familiar with the pictures. You could even have seperate books for things to bite and things not to bite. This worked wonderful in our toddler room. It was the kids favorite book to read. They would point to the pictures and say, "No bite" and shake their heads or say, "Yes" shaking their heads yes when appropriate. It was so cute.
Lastly, you want to look at when he is biting. Is it when he is angry, frustrated, bored? Then redirect him in a mora appropriate way to express himself when he bites. Give him the words or signs to express his desires.
I hope this helps and sorry it's so long. If you have any more questions I am more than willing to help. After ten years of dealing with this I have learned a few tricks and tamed a lot of biters. : ) Even one of my own!
Bite him back
:) I'm totally joking! I have heard of people doing this with older kids who have biting issues, not for a baby though. I thought we were going to have biting issues with our now 13 month old, and it was right around the 10-11 month time, but it seems to have passed. I have to agree it may be teething. At that age, I would just pick a phrase like "no no, ouch, biting hurts" and repeat the same thing every time he bites.
Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn
You know that is very funny,
You know that is very funny, not nice but very funny.
I just know that I have a 12
I just know that I have a 12 year old and a 18mo. old. My 12 yeard did it when she was a baby and we figured out that when we would "play" monster on her tummy, or nibble on her ears she thought it was a term of affection and in turn started biting the babies at the baby sitters. My son did it for the same reason(i think) and we stopped the bitting "play" and he stopped the biting!I think, with him, he thought the reaction he got out of us was hysterical. We stopped reacting and would just put him down and walk away from him. It wasn' funny anymore when he got bored with our new reactions.