I've got a biter

[Erin]

Any suggestions? I'm not going to bite back.
I pulled up a thread on this from last year, but it was about a 2 year old and my biter is only 10 months old. She is not biting because she wants something - she just randomly does it. She likes to do rasberries on my belly and legs (vibrating her lips to make the noise), and then all of a sudden it turns into a bite. I say, "no biting." She looks at me - very intently, and then puts those 4 little teeth back in the same spot and tries to dig in.
She even bites her own arm sometimes.?!
Any Advice/Suggestions? I need Help!

 

[cattitude]

Smack her under the chin. You don't want her to see your hand or she will become hand shy. You might try putting your thumb on the roof of her mouth and the rest of your hand on her nose and squeeze..... Oh crap, you're talking about a child, aren't you??? Sorry, I only do puppies now.

 

[Erin]

TFF, I liked the suggestions.

 

[cattitude]

I had a biter, my oldest. We were having a problem with him biting at daycare. One day while shopping, he was in the front of the cart and leaned over and bit me on my boob. Hurt like hell and my reaction wasn't the best but I grabbed his arm and bit him...he never bit again.

I think there was a thread on here a while back about it and what people did/do to remedy the situation. I know a lot of kids go through it. She seems kinda young though. Maybe just divert her attention to a toy or something and don't make an issue out of it. But I'm old. I'm sure there are others on here who are much more knowledgable. I'll bet they're eating or something or they would have chimed in.

 

[Pete]

It could be you are just over reacting. Look at Marv Albert, he is a biter and he is successful. :shrug:

 

[crabcake]

At 10 months, I'd think it was more teething-related than an attitude issue. Does he/she have things to gum on to get relief from the cutting of teeth?

 

[RoseRed]

It could be you are just over reacting. Look at Marv Albert, he is a biter and he is successful. :shrug:

 

[vraiblonde]

My cats are biters and what I do to them is just say, in a very stern voice with a mean look on my face, "STOP that biting! I don't bite you so don't bite me." They relax their jaws and start licking me instead - works every time.

I like to think a 10 month old has about as much sense as a cat, so try the mean voice and see if she doesn't get the hint that biting is bad.

 

[bluecat]

At 10 months, I'd think it was more teething-related than an attitude issue. Does he/she have things to gum on to get relief from the cutting of teeth?

If it continues after you think she might be passed the teething stage, I would tap her enough to let her know you mean business. She'll eventually stop after being tapped or smacked enough.

 

[KCM]

When my daughter was 14 months old (she is now 12 yrs old) she went through a horrible phase of biting. She would come up behind me and bite me in the back of the leg. I tried everything from scolding her to "tapping" her mouth but nothing seemed to work. She kept on biting. One afternoon while playing with the faithful dog, she bit him on the leg. He growled and then barked at her. She started crying and never bit anyone or anything after that.

 

[Erin]

Does he/she have things to gum on to get relief from the cutting of teeth?

Yes, flesh.
She has toys, she does not really chew on them though. I've never laughed when she bit me; my hubby and I both tell her in our stern voice, "no biting."

I hope it's just a phase. It just seems deliberate and that frustrates me.

 

[Erin]

he was in the front of the cart and leaned over and bit me on my boob. Hurt like hell.

That is why I quit nursing - top teeth started coming in and the bottom weren't exactly a treat.

 

[Erin]

I like to think a 10 month old has about as much sense as a cat, so try the mean voice and see if she doesn't get the hint that biting is bad.

We do use the 'mean voice.' She gives us a challenging look and goes back for more. I feel like I should jump at her or do something more drastic to scare her straight (I'm half kidding here ).

 

[vraiblonde]

He growled and then barked at her.

That's a good idea - if the mean Mommy voice doesn't deter her, bark at her. Really. In a deep mean German Shepherd sort of way, REALLY loud. Or you could squirt her with a squirt gun - that always gets my cats' attention, too.

She probably IS doing it intentionally, but doesn't mean any harm by it because she doesn't realize that it hurts someone else.

 

[KCM]

That's a good idea - if the mean Mommy voice doesn't deter her, bark at her. Really. In a deep mean German Shepherd sort of way, REALLY loud. Or you could squirt her with a squirt gun - that always gets my cats' attention, too.

She probably IS doing it intentionally, but doesn't mean any harm by it because she doesn't realize that it hurts someone else.

I was at my wits end trying to get her to stop so I know where Erin is coming from. Nothing worked. Thank God the dog came to the rescue! BTW the squirt gun never worked for me on the cat!

 

[Elle]

I wonder what Dr. Fill would do in a situation like this

 

[cattitude]

That's a good idea - if the mean Mommy voice doesn't deter her, bark at her. Really. In a deep mean German Shepherd sort of way, REALLY loud. Or you could squirt her with a squirt gun - that always gets my cats' attention, too.

She probably IS doing it intentionally, but doesn't mean any harm by it because she doesn't realize that it hurts someone else.

In keeping with the theme...what about one of those shock collars. Or if that freaks you out, maybe one of those citronella thingys that will spray her in the face when she bites you.

OOOH! What about a muzzle?


Sorry, just being silly.

 

[Toxick]

Ever watch Wrestling? Specifically the WWE. More specifically, Mankind. Even more specifically, Mankind using Mr. Sock-o?

When someone bites you, try to grab their lower mandible. It's physically impossible to bite someone who has a good firm grasp of your lower mandible. Once you grab hold of that sucker, don't let go until you get a unqualified undisputed submission.


Disclaimer: In case you didn't catch it, the above suggestion is purely for entertainment value. I do not endorse the grabbing of children's lower jaws as a disciplinary measure. Other than being abusive and mean, it can cause injury and uncontrollable retching. (So I've heard). I have never and will never grab my children's mandibula for any reason, and suggest you follow suit. However, if you're ever engaged in fisticuffs with another adult, please use the above method. It is quite effective, and very amusing to all onlookers.

 

[vraiblonde]

OOOH! What about a muzzle?

See? NOW you're thinking! Then she'll look like Mankind and will understand that the next step is the grabbing of her lower mandible.

 

[KCM]

Ever watch Wrestling? Specifically the WWE. More specifically, Mankind. Even more specifically, Mankind using Mr. Sock-o?

When someone bites you, try to grab their lower mandible. It's physically impossible to bite someone who has a good firm grasp of your lower mandible. Once you grab hold of that sucker, don't let go until you get a unqualified undisputed submission.


Disclaimer: In case you didn't catch it, the above suggestion is purely for entertainment value. I do not endorse the grabbing of children's lower jaws as a disciplinary measure. Other than being abusive and mean, it can cause injury and uncontrollable retching. (So I've heard). I have never and will never grab my children's mandibula for any reason, and suggest you follow suit. However, if you're ever engaged in fisticuffs with another adult, please use the above method. It is quite effective, and very amusing to all onlookers.