[marathonmom]

I need some advice. How can I stop my 2.3 yo FD from biting? She has bitten 4 times in the last 2 weeks, 3 times she bit the same girl from her daycare. I am so frustrated and embarrassed by her biting.

[loveajax]

I feel your pain...my dd was a biter at that age too. Sometimes I think it was a protective mechanism (she didn't hit...I would have preferred that!). Sometimes it was over a toy, etc.

Her school started working with her by positively reinforcing her when she was being good (we called it jelly bean therapy!). (Timeouts didn't really work). We read, "Teeth are not for biting," a cute little book that helped. Eventually she just outgrew it...I wish I had the "magic bullet"...hang in there!

[onhazier]

As the fmom of a little one who came home today with another bite from a classmate, please accept when I say that you should not be embarrassed. You are not the one biting other children. The bites are not reflective of what you're doing as a parent. I honestly believe that little ones go through a bitey phase and use it when they don't have the words to express their feelings.

Be patient and know that many have been on both sides of the biting issue.

[JessicaBaker]

My daughter was a little younger when she went through a biting phase. It is very uncomfortable to be the parent of a biter.

What we did that seemed to have some effect was role playing with toys.

[arbuckle17]

Our current fkids were bitters.

First, if you get bitten and they clamp put your finger under their nose and gently press up. This will make them release. DO NOT PULL you can tear your skin (our kiddos were initially at risk so we had to be cautious with body fluids).

Second, if you catch them going for you and you can't get away try to get as much of your hand/arm etc into there mouth before they bite. The more in there the harder it is for them to get you good.

With those two points and showing no emotion when they bit we seem to have broken it.

Originally Posted by marathonmom

I need some advice. How can I stop my 2.3 yo FD from biting? She has bitten 4 times in the last 2 weeks, 3 times she bit the same girl from her daycare. I am so frustrated and embarrassed by her biting.

[chevyjewel]

Why is she being allowed to continually bite another daycare kiddo? Being a provider myself I question the heck out of that...where is the supervision???

Not to mention if her provider was providing proper supervision she could be monitoring for triggers...what's setting her off? Is she over tired? Frustrated? Being bullied? Learn what's getting her to that point and head it off for criminey's sake, don't just allow her to keep doing it! I'd be ticked if I were you, or if I were the other child's parent.

[marathonmom]

Thanks for the advice. I ordered the book Teeth Are Not For Biting that was suggested from the library. It should be in in the next couple days. We will try some role playing. Hopefully she will stop soon.

On a different note, I am very happy with my daycare provider. She is kind, loving, responsible and carefully supervises the children. I am not going to respond further but I welcome more suggestions on ways to stop the biting.

Thanks!

[chevyjewel]

I think you'll discover how to stop the biting when you sort out what's triggering her to do it in the first place.

I'm sorry if you were offended by my comment but as a provider I'd never allow a kid in my care to bite another child three times. Most provider policies would have a child removed from care at that point or at the very least suspended for a week or two. As a parent I would have pulled my kid after bite two because to me that says there isn't intervention/supervision before it happens. I get that many kids go through a biting phase but the key to stopping it and managing it in the mean time is direct and adequate supervision.

Daycare Biting Policies: Informing Parents about Preschool and Childcare Biting Incidents | Suite101.com

Taking The Bite OUT Of A Biting Child

Biting Must Never Be Permitted - KidsGrowth