Biting

My son is almost 14 months and he has been biting when ever possible. He will come up to you and look like he is giving you a kiss and than bites down. He has had teeth for ages and this has been going on for the last 2 months or so. At first we thought it was just a kid thing and he would grow out of it, now he is trying to do it to the dog! He doesn't listen to no yet. Any ideas on how to stop this?

that's a phase ...I've been told that it's affection...hurt's like sh*te but they grow out of it...with jess I would hold her chin look at her in the eye and say "No" radther sternly. With the another little boy I basically ignored the behavior...if needed be I would have told him no and put him in the playpen away from the others as a time out.

Philip is doing the EXACT same thing right now. When he bites me it hurts so bad I yelp, which makes him step away, and then I do the No thing... I always try to get on his level when I'm saying No, seems to be more effective that way. He's doing it less and less, he started at around 14 months and he's 16 months right now...

Jess used to hug and within that hug she would bite...I used to babysit other children and she would do the same thing...I thought it was out of jealousy but was told it's affection..it's an oral phase...the eye to eye "no" thing worked for Jess..but I think for boys it's morelike a time out would work.

Aillidh didn't bite, she pinched instead.  She'd also give you a cuddle with a big cheesy grin and then nip the back of your neck.  Hard.  Or cheeks. 

Then she made the mistake of doing this to a boy her age in playgroup.  He pinched her right back, smiling all the way.

She didn't pinch again after that. 

oh gods, Calvin is doing this now too! (he is nearing 14months).. he is biting. but to be fair, he is cutting two top molars this week. he is biting EVERYTHING he can get into his mouth. but when he does come in for a cuddle and if he manages to bite me, i firmly look at him and say 'no!'. (often at this point, he will laugh at me and it is all i can do NOT to laugh. but i dont. not even a smile.) then he is back off to his toys. he has pinched a few times and was scolded as well. he hasnt pinched in a few weeks though...   

oh gods, Calvin is doing this now too! (he is nearing 14months).. he is biting. but to be fair, he is cutting two top molars this week. he is biting EVERYTHING he can get into his mouth. but when he does come in for a cuddle and if he manages to bite me, i firmly look at him and say 'no!'. (often at this point, he will laugh at me and it is all i can do NOT to laugh. but i dont. not even a smile.) then he is back off to his toys. he has pinched a few times and was scolded as well. he hasnt pinched in a few weeks though...   

Aillidh never bit, it was the 'nipping' as DH calls pinching, that was fierce.  I mean, she drew blood once!  Until a kid did it right back to her.  She also used to pull hair.  Until, again, she yanked and a kid yanked hers right back.

Aillidh never bit, it was the 'nipping' as DH calls pinching, that was fierce.  I mean, she drew blood once!  Until a kid did it right back to her.  She also used to pull hair.  Until, again, she yanked and a kid yanked hers right back.

Calvin's not drawn blood yet luckily!! but he did get my arm last weekend while we were playing and i have a bruise!

Philip has drawn blood several times on me, mostly on my shoulder or my shin. He'll go in for 1,000 kisses, or what seem to be kisses anyway, and then BITE... right with hist front teeth. ! ! ! 

Philip has drawn blood several times on me, mostly on my shoulder or my shin. He'll go in for 1,000 kisses, or what seem to be kisses anyway, and then BITE... right with hist front teeth. ! ! ! 

i wonder if Calvin and Philip belong to the same 'look i'm going to kiss and cuddle mommy than BITE' club?

It is a Baby Conspiracy, I swear! 

It is a Baby Conspiracy, I swear!

it is!!! 

Pinching seems to be something Xan is doing at the moment. He has cut back, which is a good thing.

One of the werider things he did was hit himself in the head when he was being told off. This has since diminished a bit, since he is on sabbatical from creche as I am on a term time contract. Hopefully like his head banging, it will stop completely. I think they pick up things from ther kids. He's been much mellower since not attending creche. Unfortunately, he will be going back in September, and goodness knows what he will pick up again.

From everything I've read and what my friends & family who are mothers have said... the head banging and head hitting thigns are normal ways of expressing frustration non-verbally... I know Philip only did it for a little while, but he'll still bang his head with his fists sometimes.

Niall sometimes does the head banging thing too when he's being told off. No problems with biting though; he's done it once or twice, been told off and hasn't done it since.