My wee boy is an absolute darling (of course!) but he does get a bit rough sometimes. He loves to poke and whack us particularly around the face. DH and I are often sporting scratches on our faces, and there have been some very ouchy moments... Also, he loves biting at the moment. He's got 5 teeth, and he seems to want to use them on me. And he thinks it's really funny.
We've tried saying 'gentle' and helping him stroke our faces. We've tried clapping our hands loudly to distract him, saying 'ouch!', etc etc, but it seems to make it into an even more entertaining game
Of course he gets even rougher when he's tired :-)
I really don't want him to be the child who bites and hurts other children (or adults for that matter!) - any suggestions on how to gently teach him would be hugely appreciated.
I don't really think you can at this age! They don't really have the self control not to do something, so you just have to keep repeating 'no' or 'gentle' and maybe try distracting him with a toy or removing him from the situation, or get up and move away from him. Eventually he will realise that if he bites or scratches too hard his 'toy' (mummy & daddy) will move away.
DD is a bit the same with wanting to gravitate to power points...she kind of knows she isn't supposed to touch because she'll turn around and look at me as she is making a beeline towards it, I'll say no in a firm voice and she'll stop for a few seconds or sit up and turn around but then head straight back towards it. So it's like she knows she isn't supposed to go near them, but at the same time doesn't have the self control to stop herself from doing it completely ITMS
It is a hard age as they don't really understand. I was told that to a baby 'NO' means stop and then do it again. DD is now 11 months and I have noticed that she is lestening alot more now and that she will still test out things now and then but she stops with only one no from me or DH.
I believe that for every 'No' that DD hears she needs to hear atleast 2 good girls or a praise of some sort. DD was a poker too and I started by ignoring it and giving her a distraction straight away and now she has stopped.
All babies are different and I guess you just need to find something that will work for you and DS. Goodluck.
I think ignoring & distraction is the best answer at that age. If you do anything to acknowledge it, he's getting a response & thinks its amusing. I'd just move his hand & not say anything iykwim. I don't think you need to move away, keep doing what you were doing, just stop whatever he is doing without letting him know thats what your doing. Then find a book or toy to distract.
Does that make sense?
I agree with clover, hand him something he can chew instead. Hopefully he will get the idea. Distraction and removing them from the situation is better than saying no.
My DS is exactly the same, he absolutely delights in biting me! I've tried pretty much everything to no avail. Not sure what the answer is... But would love anymore ideas that anyone has.
I agree with the others, at this age the only thing you can do is not react (hard as that is sometimes).
Say 'no' and then move him away, distract him - the 'no' word won't mean much but it will start to after a bit - don't 'reward' the behaviour with a reaction.
Soemtimes it's just a stage that has to be waited out....hopefully it passes soon ;p
how to 'discipline' a ten-month old??
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