hush little baby, don't you bite

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He's at it again.
Moose bit me 3...count them: 1, 2, 3 times.
I don't know how to make him stop.
I figured today, he bit me because he was frustrated. But I don't know what he wanted at all. He's at that in between age where he just doesn't have a word for what he wants, so I can't understand him all the time. I know it's frustrating for me so I imagine it is for him, too. I can feel it in his body when he's frustrated; it tenses up and he'll give a little shout sometimes. Then he may start crying, too. So I pick him up to try and comfort him and understand him. This often makes him more frustrated because he doesn't like to be held down (like during shots) so he'll lean in. That's when he bites. It's not like a big chunk of my skin but it hurts!

I've calmly told him "no."
I've hollered "ow."
I've grabbed his face & said "no." (don't worry it's not hard...no harder than a squishy face kiss)
I've tried time outs (which he doesn't understand the cause/effect yet).
I've tried distraction.
I've tried to calmly talk to him (which he again doesn't get & usually makes him more upset).

I just don't know what to do. I don't want him to bite. I don't want to be bitten! But I don't know how to understand him all the time. It's not like I can say, "use your words." Poor guy has no words! It's just really frustrating for me. AND I have seen him bite his own arm, too.

Any ideas on how to make him stop? Or even better on how to understand why he's frustrated?

PS He has more teeth than the picture shows. There's 4 top, 4 bottom. Good things it's even.

Comments

TentCamper said…
I did not have much in the way of a biting problem with the kids....but what I've heardis that when it happens...DO NOT react. after the fact...or in between, try, in whatever way you can, to show that biting is not good. The not reacting is due to the fact that some kids...and all people do things for the reaction (good or bad.) kids love ANY reaction.
July 16, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Unknown said…
I know Eva just wanted to try her new little chompers out. I would just keep grabbing his little face & saying... NO BITING!.. Takes a few times but he will understand.
July 17, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Heather said…
He's just frustrated, but you still have to get it under control. Just keep telling him no and explaining that it hurts you. He'll figure it out.
July 17, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Anonymous said…
Hi Mrs. S....thanks for stopping by yesterday.

Hmmm...my son was not really a biter...unless his gums hurt REALLY bad. To try and ease some of the frustration for your little guy, you might try some signing with him. It can just be made up signs...doesn't have to be the real thing. That, along with continuing to tell him "no" on the biting 'might' help....

Of course, this is just another phase they go through too....hopefully it won't last long.
July 17, 2008 at 7:54 PM
KatBouska said…
I once bit Maile back.

It doesn't work.

Don't worry, just keep doing what you've been doing, he'll grow out of it!!
July 19, 2008 at 3:26 PM
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