Toddler biting Mum

DS has started biting me (and only me :cry:). I have 2 hickey-like marks on my shoulder which are quite sore. There isn't one reason that I can see - if he gets excited he bites or if I'm cuddling him but not paying attention, if I'm trying to get him to do something etc.

I yell (ouch involuntarily), then tell him it makes Mummy sad when he bites, and today have been taking a car off him each time. I've tried to put his arm in his mouth so he doesn't bite me and sees how it feels, I've tried asking him why, but not gotten an answer - asked if its because he wants me to play, he just laughs.

DH says maybe its 'cause of bf that he bites me, but I can't see why it would be.

What do I do to stop this? I'm going to make an effort to be more attentive (which should help with TT if nothing else), but what else should I do?

Snowy - usually 2 reasons - teething and attention.

When DD started biting me, she was teething and i didnt want it to turn into a way for her to get a rise. SO this is what we did and it worked a treat!! only did it perhaps 1/2 dozen times in total then she stopped (will explain a little more in a sec).

When he bites you on the skin/arm etc.. scream as loud and high as you can! He will look at you with a shock and possibly cry from being scared but honestly it works!!! I had DD in tears many times then she realised what caused me to scream so lough and high pitched .

She will still come and bite my pants or shirt , but she doesnt get my skin, she is very careful now and i dont scream when she does that. she learnt the difference between good and bad biting.

Dont yell or get mad or anything else, just scream and move on....

hth for you!

Thanks PP, I'll give it a go.

hi Snowy,

Pink's suggestion sounds like a really good one. I will try to remember that for if it happens to us. I heard a friend mention her child (just turned one) was doing the same thing (biting her shoulder too).

i just had to post and say hi to you, cos i'm just behind you in the bf-ing journey, and i rarely find anyone else also bf-ing a child over two. You've made my day (that you do it too).

cheers
Gigi

Snowy, I just posted a thread about my DD starting to hit me on the head and she turns 1 tomorrow! I will watch out for the biting thing, ahhhh, something to look forward to!

Well he was going so well until about 4pm - I thought he just wanted me to post here and then he's stop:rolleyes:. Unfortuneatly, no. He now has no cars - and asks for them periodically & I say no Mummy took them away because you bit her, if you can go all day tomorrow without biting you can have a car back. The screaming did no good - he just thought it was terribly funny.

Hi Gigi - nice to see another long term bf'er - glad I made you day.

How does he react if you say "no" and put him on the floor & walk away? This is what I do with DS - no attention from me if he bites - but I know he is a lot younger than your DS.

I'm with Ezz, I yell out (usually involuntarily!) and put DD straight on the floor, explaining why quickly then leave her for a min or two. I explain again why I put her down when I pick her up and repeat as often as necessary!

I find it has been working really well, as with PinkPalace, DD now bites my clothes rather than my skin (more often than not!)

Good luck, it is not a nice little trick from your DS, and not really nice to save the trick for you!

Well he bit DH tonight so I'm not all alone anymore...

I was doing the putting down thing initally when it was a rare occurance, but of late he may have been getting more attention from this pleasant little habbit. Will try to give less attention to it.

Thanks!