Baby Biting

Seonead - posted on 10/16/2009

Didn't want to run another thread

any tips on what to do with twins biting each other. My daughters just started doing this a week or so ago, when one makes the other mad they bite one another. We have been trying to tell them firm no, and we have also been trying to tap them a little on their mouth, which I am not fond of.

i have 13 month old twins and we just about finished with the biting phase. this may sound mean but i swore it only took 1 week for them to stop biting us/each other. everytime they bite us we would give them a bite back. mind you we in no way left bite marks on them, just enough for them to realize that the action of biting hurts. i tried the crying when the did it to me and they just laughed at me. i tried the saying no and putting them away from me/each other. none of that worked. as soon as i bite them it took them 3 times and that was it. now they dont even think about it. they used to leave bruises on each other from biting. since i tried the biting i have no longer seen either of them doing it to each other.

by the way i heard this from another parent who swore by it when i was at my wits end with the biting. my kids are now biting free!

Caryn - posted on 09/17/2009

Quoting Sinead:

At this age, removing the baby, giving them a good frown and saying a firm "no" is a good idea as they're starting to understand words, expressions and consequences more and more. My baby bites me too with her 8 ridiculously sharp teeth, but usually on the nipple as I'm still breastfeeding, so she loses the boob for a few minutes. It's not a quick fix, but she's learning and I'm sure your boy will too.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

Your son doesn't realize that it hurts you when he bites, its just something he "can" do and if he's teething its something that relieves the pain a bit.

Jessica - posted on 09/16/2009

My sister-in-law did something really neat to get her son to stop biting. She over-exaggerated a cry, like a sobbing sound while she was holding him when he did it. He stopped & looked at her, surprised & a little sad, like he was sorry for hurting her and hugged her. Then she told him that biting hurts and it's not ok to do. I don't know if this helps, I thought it was a neat way to go about it & her kids are some of the best behaved kids I've ever seen. Good Luck!!

Stephanie - posted on 09/16/2009

It is just a phase. Most babies around this age go through it. Assuming, yours is 1 or close to it... DDs only bitten me twice. Both times I was holding her and we were cuddling. When she did it, I put her straight on the floor (so she would recognize... ooh mommy doesnt want to cuddle when i bite) and tell her we dont bite. She hasnt bitten me since the second time, about 2 1/2 weeks ago. My MIL is trying a different approach despite what i asked of her. shes hitting her on the mouth (albeit not hard) and telling her no. Well, DD still bites her

Robyn - posted on 09/14/2009

Mine does it too, I am told it is a phase just not a fun one. We gently tap him on the mouth and say "no bite". He is getting better about it. My friend bit her daughter back and the baby never did it again, but I can't bring myself to bite him.

Sinead - posted on 09/14/2009

At this age, removing the baby, giving them a good frown and saying a firm "no" is a good idea as they're starting to understand words, expressions and consequences more and more. My baby bites me too with her 8 ridiculously sharp teeth, but usually on the nipple as I'm still breastfeeding, so she loses the boob for a few minutes. It's not a quick fix, but she's learning and I'm sure your boy will too.