Biting...

Amanda - posted on 03/19/2010 ( 4 moms have responded )

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I'm just curious how everyone else handles when their baby bites. Gavin bit me the other night on my inner arm. Bless his heart, he's teething really bad right now. His 7th and 8th teeth are coming in and he's wanting to bite on his shirt sleeves, crib, etc. I asked his pediatrician if there is anything I can do at this age. She told me to put him in "time out" so to speak. When he bites me I need to tell him that "We don't bite" and to put him in his playyard or crib (if he doesn't have sleep problems) for one minute. A minute per however many years old, and he's close enough to one. But she said the objective is to ignore him, showing him that it's not okay to bite.

How many moms bite back? There have been many tell me that's what they do, to show their child how it feels. Isn't that hypocritical...you tell your child not to bite but you bite them?

What do you think?

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4 Comments

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Jennifer - posted on 03/22/2010

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Babies don't understand being bitten back. My son is/was a biter, and he is almost 4. He didn't understand that being bit really hurts, and didn't start putting 2+2 together about being bitten back until he was older. He is just trying out his new teeth, and doesn't understand his actions. If you bite him back, it will just send a "mommy hurt me" message, and not "ouch, that hurts mommy, so I shouldn't bite." :)

I would keep going as your pediatrician suggested and hope it passes once his teeth come in.

Brandie - posted on 03/22/2010

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I've just started "punishing" my daughter for biting, so I'm not sure if this will be affective... But I've heard it's best to say "no bite" move her away, and ignor her. The ignoring part is supposed to be what hurts them the most. I'm not speaking off of experience with the biting back, but what I learned in my early childhood classes in college was that your child will mimic any actions she/he sees you doing. ie, biting, hitting, etc. Everyone has different parenting skills though. I guess you just have to keep trying different techniques until you find one that works best for you!

Victoria - posted on 03/19/2010

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I bite back it's the only way they will no it hurts like pulling hair or hitting. My son is going to be one sooon but they don't really understand and if you put him in a Time out lol they just think it's bed time or your busy for a sec not that they did anything wrong Bite back and say it hurts and don't do it or i will my son stop biting me after i did it and tones tons of people do it they might say they don't but it works

Victoria - posted on 03/19/2010

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25

I bite back it's the only way they will no it hurts like pulling hair or hitting. My son is going to be one sooon but they don't really understand and if you put him in a Time out lol they just think it's bed time or your busy for a sec not that they did anything wrong Bite back and say it hurts and don't do it or i will my son stop biting me after i did it and tones tons of people do it they might say they don't but it works