Parents Only. Would you please share your ideas on how to stop a child from biting?

I understand that biting is a normal part of development for some children. My 19 month old is having difficulty with biting and it is SO frustrating!

Often just putting them down or separating them from the action (meaning the playtime with the other child) and a firm "no" gets the message across. For example, if it is you that got bit, yell "no" and put the baby down. That usually upsets the child and lets them know it isn't okay. At least that's what the experts say.

But the funny thing is, while all the childcare experts say to never bite your child back, I know a lot of people who did just that, and guess what? The child stopped biting AND didn't end up emotionally scarred for life!

So....since the direct approach seems to work the best and not harm the child, I'd say go ahead and bite the child back. It should be hard enough to cause them discomfort but not so hard it is mean and breaks the skin.

Im sure that this wont be the popular answer and it may even cause some *gasps* BUT Im going to say it anyway....Bite her back! My son too went throught this, he would bite everyone, and you are right it is a normal behavior (they explore with their mouths) HOWEVER they DONT realize that it hurts, so bite her back so she knows that it isn't nice and it hurts. It worked for us, Good Luck!

I'm with BiancaVee.

give him a smack

Today it would be considered child abuse. In my childhood it was considered punishment. I assume you mean your child bites things he/she should not - like other people. When either I or my sister bit one another (one time- according to my mothers stories), she grabbed the offending child's arm and bit hard enough to really hurt but not break skin, and then said. That is what biting feels like. You don't like it, so don't do it to anyone again or you will feel it again.

Check out the symptoms link at www.hufa.org to see if your child is having symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Both my sister and I are (were in my case, as I have flipped to being diabetic). I understand that ADD and ADHD may be related to imbalances in blood sugar in children.

bite her back ...i know it sounds mean but when she gets the notion of what it feels like to be on the other side of some teeth she will start to refrain

When he bites get down at his level, look him in the eyes, deepen your voice and so no. Then take him to time out. Give him 2 minutes. Do not bite him, it may work but it is an aggressive act towards your child and that gives very mixed messages. Just be consistent and he will stop. Good luck.

The best way is to totally ignore the child when they bite. No matter how hard they try to get your attention, just ignore them.

this will not be a popular answer but when my nice was biting i don't believe in biting back that tells the child your bigger so you can do it but not them, try putting the child's hand or arm in thar mouth and push up on thar mouth and tell them that is what it feels like when you bit someone

Yes I have to agree, biting back does work.
We had the same problem, so I told the one who was bitten to bite back while you are watching, this has to be supervised so it dosen't get out of hand, when crying started I said do you see how much it hurts? It only takes once or twice, then it's over with. Have the child who was bitten to bite back in about the same area.

Your shild is biting people? or is he/she biting other items around the house? Cups, straws, etc.
If the child is biting people than you need to give him/her a good smack across the mouth and tell them to STOP IT. They'l get the hint.
NEVER bite your child back it is abusive and it makes them beleive it is OK to BITE.

You are so Wrong! Either swat that child on the behind or bite them and say no. Biting is a defensive or attention behavior. I have 2 sons. I would not put up with that behavior in children or pets. Put away your Dr. Spock book.

give him/her bitter raw apple. tell him/her if they wanna bite, eat more of those apple.