How to discourage 13mo from biting?

[Purpledoggy]

This is a relatively new behaviour in the last month. It started as pretty rare but in the last week it has really escalated. He doesn’t seem to bite me but I think I pre-empt it and move him away before he can. He has bitten my husband and my mum several times, and it’s not a gentle play bite, although he’s not doing it when upset-often it is when just being carried up or down stairs 🤷🏻‍♀️. It’s quite deliberate and sometimes it’s hard to get him to let go. We tell him no firmly and that it’s not nice to bite but he just thinks ‘no’ is funny in general. My husband and mum usually yelp but because it’s painful, not for attention. As he bites when being held, I have told them to put him down immediately so he knows it does not have a positive outcome, but I’m at a loss as to what else to do? Thanks in advance! Xx

[Twiglet2]

we went through a stage of this abojt the same age for a month or so…. I think they are just exploring what their teeth can do and the reaction. I tried all the things you have but it made him laugh! the one that worked was I just put him down immediately no sound (if I could manage to stifle my scream as sometimes it’s blooming sore) no eye contact, no anger etc (or basically no reaction/attention ) and I asked my dad to do the same (he would bite him most) and he got gradually less and less and after a couple of weeks it stopped and didn’t come back thankfully! It might be a different technique for different kids but that the one that worked for us in case it’s worth a try? Xx

[Purpledoggy in reply to Twiglet2]

I suspect that will work with him as he is very sociable and loves a cuddle. We'll give it a go! xx

[JoyfulStar in reply to Twiglet2]

Oh my goodness! I can so relate to this. My daughter went through a biting during breastfeeding stage and the only thing that worked was no reaction. Just stop the feeding process.

They do it for the reaction I think. Sometimes it is hard to stifle a scream though!

[Jonesy84]

Hi lovely , yeah same here with my little boy but can’t remember what age he may have been a bit older. I done the same thing as you and when he did bite we put him straight down sitting on the floor and told him that was sore. He has a chair that rocks and we used it as a naughty chair 🤣 eventually it did stop. His new favourite thing is hitting the tv with anything in site and thinks that’s hilarious. Always something new xx

[Purpledoggy in reply to Jonesy84]

They are such little stinkers! Our daily trial is to keep him and the cat apart - they gravitate to eachother constantly then there is grabbing, face pulling by the cat, and eventially some warning bats before the claws come out. Boy thinks being scolded for this is hilarous even though the cat has scratched him before 🙈 Good to know the biting can stop quicklyxx

[JoyfulStar]

Hey Purpledoggy, sorry you are going through this. As previously noted, I went through something similar and the only thing that worked was not reacting at all to the bite.

The other thing that I thought of which I forgot to mention earlier was as much as possible preempting when she would bite. I read somewhere that if one paid attention whilst breastfeeding you might notice the moment they are about to bite. My daughter’s expression always changed to a cheeky look just before she nipped me. This helped me prevent being bitten in the first place on a few occasions.

Don’t know if this might work for you but may be useful if there are any signs to look out for to stop being bitten in the first place. All the best hun xxx

[Purpledoggy in reply to JoyfulStar]

I think this is actually why he does not bite me-I pre-empt but hubby and mum don’t. Hopefully they can now that he’s doing it more. It can be hard when he loves lunging his face at you in a play cuddle, as often that isn’t when he’ll bite. Now we have a plan hopefully it will curb it! Xx

[Solly-44]

We went through a phase of this but the other way around in that he’d only bite me (thanks kid!). Nothing I did stoped him so I’m no good at offering advice but he did grow out of it quickly - maybe a month or so? So hopefully it’ll stop soon, it can be surprisingly painful to be bitten by such tiny teeth 😅

[Purpledoggy in reply to Solly-44]

Oh bless you! Nice to feel, er, special?! Very much hoping he does grow out of it-he has left some proper bruises on poor hubby as he has a lot of teeth! Xx