1 year old + 1 month keeps biting how do I stop him?

Hi my lil boy has recently got into the bad habbit of biting and he don't listen when me or my boyfriend tell him off he has not done it hard until today he has bit me twice today and I had a top on and he has made me bleed so he has bit me hard how can we nip this in the bud?

[2princes1princess]

Do you have a naughty corner/step? We used one with our first (not for biting) but it did the trick. I known friends who children have bitten and they've bitten them back not hard enough to hurt just to shock the child-im not sure how I feel about that though. It's. Probably just a phase but keep going with the step leaving for a couple of mind then going down to his level and sayin no biting is naughty. It could take a awhile hut it needs to be done xx

[dons88]

Google Supernannys naughty step technique, she lays it all out very clearly and it's easier if you have 'rules' to follow. He's still really little so it might need to be adapted a bit.

I know parents that have bitten back too, I'm absolutely not a fan and needless to say it didn't work. Teaching a baby not to bite by biting is just confusing! It's probably just a little phase he's going through so don't worry, just be firm and try not to make a huge fuss when he does bite - the attention could seem funny to him which you definitely don't want. Good luck

[MadamAdams]

At just over a year old he's too young to use the naughty step/time out techniques (I'm not convinced these work that well anyway) I had a similar problem with my youngest who's now nearly 2 and a half. He only bit me a couple of times and it was normally out of frustration. When he did bite I used the same technique as I did while dog training - a high pitched yelp. this has the effect of refocusing the youngsters attention to the fact they've done something that wasn't right and gets their attention back on you. Then you pick them up, sit them on the floor and proceed to ignore them for about 30 seconds. At this age the one thing they want is to be with mummy and 30 seconds of not having mummy's full attention is a lifetime for them. If need be, stand with your back to them too to reinforce the message that if they hurt you, you don't want to be with them.

After about 30 seconds get down to your toddlers level and tell them don't bite mummy, its not nice then give a cuddle and don't say anymore about it. Rinse and repeat as often as the biting occurs (I'll pretty much guarantee it won't be more than twice after this)

I know the technique sounds "mean" but at this age most things are done because of frustration, being over tired or being unwell. The cognitive abilities of a one year old are not well enough developed to use the naughty step/time out methods as they simply don't understand the concept - what they do understand is instinctual things - they are aware they've bitten mummy and now mummy's not playing with them, thats not a good thing in their world. Teach them respect the way they are built to learn, not the way we think they should learn.

[Hidden in reply to MadamAdams]

I get the approach you use.....and sounds like it could be quite reasonable as not ignoring them for ages and explaining why after etc. But the high pitch yelp for a child sounds incredibly odd lol. You will get some odd looks if you need to do this when out and about haha!

[dons88 in reply to MadamAdams]

Other than the yelping your technique is almost exactly what I've always done and called 'the naughty step' maybe I'm doing it wrong hehe x

[Hidden]

My lil one don't sit down long enough to do naughty step/corner he is always on the move he only sits down to eat and even then he is still wriggling so I don't think that technique would work and I have yelped as it really hurt cause he made me bleed he didn't like that I ignored him and bout 2 mins later he fell over and banged his head and wouldn't come near me so I could give him a cuddle and when I did cuddle him he pushed me away he likes his freedom so he don't care whether I'm paying him attention or not he is very mischeivous. What I have been doing is very similar to your technique MadamAdams so I will keep persisting with that and if it gets really bad I will have to try the naughty step/corner and I don't like the sound of biting them back either thank you ladies xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hey yh he is very young and won't really understand any of this stuff properly. Ignoring him is a little harsh at this age as they don't really understand why and it hurts their feelings.....as you kind of described with your little one when he bumped his head after. Your natural reaction when he hurt you will let him know it hurt you and it was a negative thing. Babies go though these phases and I vividly remember how hard they can feel to get through. Keep doing what you think is right for you and yours and keep reinforcing it is wrong each time they do it....I'm looking forward to this phase already for myself haha x

[Hidden]

I no it is a bit harsh ignoring him for a lil while but you have to be cruel to be kind as I'm expecting no.2 and I don't want him to be behaving like this with baby no.2 or other adults and children and I will try everything at least once except biting him bk but when it comes to telling him off he don't seem to listen to anyone he don't listen to me or the bf or his grandads or his nans uncles etc but this is the worse habbit he has got and I need to stop him immediately thank you anyway xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Lol that wasn't a criticism by the way. Of course you need to try what you can to get them to understand. If it doesn't work for you, don't worry about trying to keep doing it is all I meant hope they get out of the habit asap...like you say, definitely before the bubba comes x

[Hidden]

Don't worry I didn't take it as a criticism and yes hopefully before no.2 comes along x

[newmummy1]

Do you know why he's biting? It could be for attention or a way of communicating as he can't talk yet. Saying ouch and moving away from him when he does it will let him know it's not kind. But also make sure you use lots of positive praise when he's being good!

[Hidden]

No I don't no why he is doing it as yesterday I was cuddling him then he bit me when he decided to get down and the other time I just sat down with a cup of tea so there was no reason for them and I have tried that before and he thought that was funny and started giggling at me and tried to do it again straight after he does get lots of praise when he has been good I clap my hands which he copies and we both go yay and I call him a clever boy then he gets really excited with a big cheeky smile x