My daughter is becoming a terrible biter, but only to her 6 year old brother. I completely understand that it is a communication-frustration issue, but each time it is so hard that it bruises him badly. It is usually on his shoulders and back. It is usually not provoked - he is most of the time sitting and watching TV, reading, or coloring.
I have tried everything I know to do.....all the normal punishments (time out, etc) and putting horrible things on her tongue like Alum powder (spice), lemon juice, hot sauce. I even tried the unthinkable....biting her (hard enough to leave a small bruise). That worked for a few days, but now the biting is back with a vengence.
I need advice. I feel bad doing these bad punishments to her but I also feel horrible that my son is being bitten so badly.
My son was also a biter at this age, but the lemon juice worked very quickly with him.
I am out of ideas with this strong-willed little girl!

By Kaye on Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 10:40 pm:

I think the only effective way to deal with this is being super consistent and just being right there. Train your son to very loudly say, NOO that hurts, and it is okay to say if she even comes close to biting. Also it will be hard, but try not to let them play too close together without you there. You will have to be preemtive about getting them in those situations. My son would get into our playhouse and before it was all said and done he would bite someone, so I just couldn't let him in there while others were in there. It was a pain, but they do eventually outgrow this phase.

By Bellajoe on Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 08:33 am:

My ds used to bite too, but he wouldn't just bite one person.
Whenever he bit, i would tap his mouth just a tad forcefully but not hard and say "NO BITE!!" and put him in his pack n play for a time out. I had to be very consistent and eventually he got the idea.

It sounds like you are beyond that point though. Your poor son, that biting really hurts!!

I hope she grows out of it soon I'm sorry i don't have any more advice for you.

By Tarable on Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 11:25 am:

My younger DD only bit her sister and the only thing that ever stopped it was, when I was at my witts end after I had done everything anyone had ever suggested (yes even biting her pretty hard), having her sister bite her back.

I know it sounds harsh and it really was a last resort but I as at the point that the daycare my DDs were in was going to kick my younger DD out because she wouldn't quit biting her sister. They had a strict 3 bite rule and she had already bitten only her sister 2 times.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that you come up with the right answer for your DD.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

By Tonya on Monday, January 22, 2007 - 03:24 pm:

Bite back it sounds harsh but it broke both my kids quickly. Jade was a bruiser biter too and Timmy bit her back 2x and she stopped. I bit her 1x and she quit.

Good luck.

By Elizabeth704 on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 07:04 pm:

Thanks for all the support and suggestions. I had originally thought to let my son bite her back, but thought it would send too many mixed messages. I think that may be the next step.

For the moment, her biting has stopped. I also noticed this week that she is cutting 2-3 molars, so maybe that is the reason for the latest biting spree. Oh well, as always, one parenting challenge after another......