Help! Baby has started biting...

carteramariec

In the last two days my child (17 months old) has bitten 6 children in his daycare room. They aren't light bites either, the kids all have teeth marks with bruises on them from DS. The daycare teacher doesn't seem to think that it is a big deal, but I feel awful and embarrassed to see all these children with DS's teeth marks on them. She also mentioned that the kids stay away from him because he is so "rough and tumble" with them; so I guess they're used to his behavior.  At home he only bites his older sister when she takes a toy from him or purposely attempts to irritate him, but no one else. We tell him no and redirect him when he bites her, but perhaps a different disciplinary tactic is required? Has anyone else dealt with this? Any suggestions?

Thank you for your help ladies!! I am at a complete loss. Sigh.

littleheaven

2 weeks ago we had 3 incident reports in a row....one day she bit 2 kids and a teacher the next day another kid and another teacher and day 3 a boy who's skin she broke....we don't know what kids and their parents don't know it's soph but i feel so bad....she's being transitioned to the toddler room and was biting in the infant room...she does better in the toddler room

usually she only bites me and it was mainly when her front teeth were coming in...her last front tooth is coming in but now i think it's also out of frustration...she broke my skin too

we try and redirect or say we don't bite...or put her in some sort of time out...i bought teeth are not for biting.... we read it often

i think at this age it's a phase and will stop...knock on wood we've been incident free but not sure if she's done or bc she's been in the toddler room more

good luck!

ambmama

Taylor bit 3 kids 3 weeks ago, but we didn't have another incident until yesterday. The biggest thing for him is that he doesn't have any siblings or interactions with other children, so when they take his toys or show aggression, he immediately hits or bites.

I talked to his teacher and the director, and they encourage redirection and having him learn new actions for emotions. For example, when he's mad at home because we take something away and he comes to hit, you are supposed to tell them they are mad and shake your fists (or whatever). Not sure if it's practical for our kiddos yet, but we are trying. The biggest thing is that our daycare said they would pay special attention to Taylor and separate when possible before incidents happen.

Good luck - I hope we all get our kiddos through this stage!!

carteramariec

Thank you ladies for all of your help! I guess a few parents called the daycare and said they found bite marks on their kids and were upset...hopefully this doesn't lead to him being kicked out. Sigh. 

littleheaven

i jokingly asked them the first time she bit a kid if she was going to get expelled and they said if they did that, they'd have no kids left in the place...

carteramariec

Its true @littleheaven! DS came home with multiple bite marks the next day, so clearly there's an epidemic in the toddler room. LOL.