Any moms of biters on...

TheBorg7of9

My 17 month old son has starting biting at daycare.  If he attempts to bite or bites three kids in one day, we have to pick him up.  We are able to pick him up now since my husband is off for the summer.  But I am stressing about August 20th, when my husband returns to his job.  They do time outs at daycare.  At home he tries to bite me sometimes (but not hard) and I do a time out.  They have also tried orajel because they think he is teething.  

The funny thing is, he is not doing it because he is angry or fighting with the kids.  He just walks up and does it.  Or he's sitting next to a kid and bites him.

 I don't want to go to a nanny at this time. I'd like to wait another year.  I have another baby due in December and want to be able to send DS1 to daycare during my maternity leave. 

 Any tips?  Or just anyone can tell me this happened to them and their kid eventually stopped. 

TheBorg7of9

Yes, they are shadowing him and say that he is just sitting there and then turns and bites them.  Or he might grab their hand and bite them.

I thought the three bites and you're out policy was normal.  Should I question this?  Perhaps I need to ask for a meeting.  Some of the strategies I read, like "tell him to use his words," don't really apply since he only knows like three words at this point.  They say they are just following him and watching him closely using time-outs for attempted or successful bites.  We have also tried chewy toys.

Thank you for those resources! 

Our next solution is I am going to put him to bed earlier at night and letting him sleep in the morning.  I had starting keeping him up for about 20 extra minutes to play with me before bed. 

lolinshag

My friend just went thru this. Her DD got bitten a couple of times at daycare. Now DD seems to think that is how she is supposed to interact with kids. I sat my DD next to her on the fourth they have been playmates since birth. Well friends DD toddled up, wrapped her arms around my DD, then bit her hard enough to draw blood and clapped. When we got on to her she looked confused. So maybe try showing your DS an alternative way to interact with another person/child? "no honey. Biting hurts. Let's give high fives!"

TheBorg7of9

Thanks!

EMOmamma

DS went through an extreme biting phase from about 20 to 22 months. Like yours a lot were unprovoked. Thoses are the tough ones to prevent because there is no warning or reason.
We also had the 3 bites per day rule. His biting was beyond the developmently appropriate levels. I read so many books, took him to the dentist, the pedi, and had a behavior evaluation. They do think he has minor SPD.
I really think the only solution was time. It really sucks having a biter. Good luck.