my 2 year olds started biting

[charlie82]

Hi all. I need some advice. My 2 year old has started biting. It only used to happen rarely, but recently its become a bit of a problem. This week hes bitten two family members (both children) and a child at nursery today. Can't quite work him out. He''ll do it when he's happy or giving cuddles or just playing. He does sometimes bite objects when hes angry but not people. How do I get him to stop? Tried naughty step and telling him off, he seems apologetic at the time, but will then do it again later on again. x

[sherrardk]

I had a similar problem a while back and got lots of good advice http://www.theanswerb...g/Question900350.html - she has stopped now though!! Good luck.

[xstitcher]

Two year olds do that and mine were no exception but one especially was a regular little misery there so I bit him back (not hard but enough for him to realize what he was doing hurt and that stopped it. The sinner is 45 now and seems to have no trumas from it.

[flobadob]

When our youngfla started doing that I let out a few roars of "No", quite loudly, backed up with "Ah, ah" if he looked at me or his mammy while he did it. It worked.

[twinny-15]

Both of the above answers are good, start by a loud NO!!! if that does not work then yes a gentle bite back..not hard, just enough pressure so it's felt will do the trick.. I have had 4 kids and also 4 grandkids .. it worked for me ..good luck x

[charlie82]

Thank you for your replys. I shall give them a go. x

[aims1202]

I dont agree with the other answers at all, how can anyone bite a child, its shocking. and it also teaches children that biting is ok, children learn most from copying what we do.
I think the best way is to ignore it completely and carry on as though they are not doing it, either they are doing it for attention or for the reaction it gets in which case give them lots of positive attention and ignore the biting or they are fustrated and cannot express anger about something.
i would explain to him another time that biting hurts and we have to be kind and gentle to everyone, show him what is gentle on you or a doll, notice when he is good and kind and gentle, even the smallest thing and praise and reward this behaviour

[sherrardk]

Hi AIms - I agree totally. I was advised to bite my eldest child when he was biting and again with one of my twins (I posted above) - I could never bite one of them. My most recent 'biter' would see it as encouragement to carry on biting anyway! (PS - she's stopped now - she's found other ways to torture us!)

[trt]

I agree 100% with xstitcher, it worked for me.

[sherrardk]

Hi TRT - I expect when your children were little it was acceptable to smack them too. It could be that people's ideas have changed in the 40 years since your children were little. (I don't smack my children either.)

[Hawkwalk]

http://www.supernanny...a-stop-to-biting.aspx

some good advice here. It also mentions never biting your child which I must agree with. It can not be right to tell your child not to bite, then to go ahead and bite them!!

[sherrardk]

Sorry TRT - got your info confused with xstitcher (obviously have no idea how old your children are). x

[trt]

sherrardk,
yes I smacked my kids and not one of them ever got into trouble, at school, in the neighborhood or with the police. I think that proves a small point of this discussion?

[sherrardk]

Well, the discussion was about biting not smacking your kids. Mine are still young (too young to be out on their own so I don't know if the smacking arguement will hold out yet). But I don't agree with hiting kids.