Biting

[quizzywig]

My little granddaughter is 17 months old and a happy smiling little girl except that just recently she has begun to bite herself if she gets in a tantrum. She is getting her back teeth through and I wonder if this may have something to do with it. She seems to bite her hand and arm, my daughter is hoping it's just a phase and she'll grow out of it, as the tantrums do not happen that regularly.
Any advice would be appreciated.

[annie0000]

It is probably something that she has discovered that provokes a reaction and therefore an audience to her tantrum. i can't imagine that she will do herself more than superficial harm. The self preservation instinct would be too strong for that and if she really hurt herself, she would stop doing it. My son used to bang his head on the ground when he had a tantrum - even if he was out on the pavement. He soon stopped doing it when we walked away and left him to it! But the first couple of times, your instinct is to rush to him and get him to stop. That doesn't work.

[quizzywig]

Thanks annie0000, I agree with you. It's nice to have our opinions confirmed. Let's hope she soon gets fed up with this particular form of attention seeking!

[Pam29]

My 16 month old is doing exactly the same thing at the moment. It seems to be out of pure frustration and Im hoping that by not making a fuss it will just be a plhase that passes quickly.

[quizzywig]

Yes frustration is another reason, her brother is nearly four and she tries to do everything at his pace. Thank you for you views. Answerbank is really great for getting this kind of reassurance.