Beware of Toddler

[LabRat]

I had a mini conference with the lead teacher in her room last night. How they 'punish' biting (and other ) is by making the offender sit down in a certain spot for a period of time. Yesterday, after biting somone who wasn't moving fast enough in the slide line, Katie went straight over and sat in the naughty spot all by herself So, i consider this progress, she knows it's wrong to bite, but hasn't yet developted the impulse control or language to say "get moving slowpoke!" Were saying excuse me at home, but i don't think it's clicked yet.

Oh, and at home the other night, she didn't want to get her diaper changed. She went to bite me on the arm, but stopped just as her mouth touched me, and gave me a kiss instead. I told her, "thank you, we don't bite mommy". it's been almost a week since she's tried it at home. I'm sure we'll have isolated incidents, but I think we have kept it from getting to be an hourly occurance.

[Undertoad]

With puppies, you give a loud squeal and pull away and don't play with them for a little while. They realize they're hurting you and start using a gentler mouth.

[perth]

Originally Posted by LabRat

Oh, and at home the other night, she didn't want to get her diaper changed. She went to bite me on the arm, but stopped just as her mouth touched me, and gave me a kiss instead. I told her, "thank you, we don't bite mommy". it's been almost a week since she's tried it at home. I'm sure we'll have isolated incidents, but I think we have kept it from getting to be an hourly occurance.

Definite progress. Jamey has done that a couple times too. It's cute. What's really great is that he's getting so good at expressing his feelings verbally. I mean, it's really hard not to laugh when he scowls at me and says "Daddy, I'm mad at you!" but it's wonderful that he realises it gets results as opposed to time out. Does she talk much yet?

[kerosene]

Originally Posted by garnet

Actually, it's YOU that needs to go back and read the posts. Perth also mentioned in this thread that his son bites, too. If you would like me to post a link to that, I'd be happy to do so. Please be more careful before you start slingin' the mud, OK, honey?

Perth mentioned that his son *use to* bite. It was mentioned to help address what the thread was originally about. Because you don't have experience with children, you wouldn't know that most children go through that stage (that I have heard of). And what is with the "honey" and "sweetie" stuff? Does your new internet man know you have so many "honey"s?

Labrat, great job with the progress. It's nice to see parents like you around. I hope things continue to go well with that.

[kerosene]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

With puppies, you give a loud squeal and pull away and don't play with them for a little while. They realize they're hurting you and start using a gentler mouth.

I think they are sort of similar in that way. I have noticed that anytime Jamey hurts me in some way accidentally, I will say ouch! and he immediately feels really bad about it. He has, on occasion, put his head down and cried because he felt so bad. The kid is so sensitive.

[garnet]

Originally Posted by case

Perth mentioned that his son *use to* bite.

Not that it's any of my business (and I'm sure you'll all jump on the chance to point that out to me) but the child you are referring to in this thread is perth's an not yours? Sorry, I'm totally confused now and just trying to get my facts straight. And BTW, the "used to" part about biting is not the way his post reads...

Originally Posted by case

And what is with the "honey" and "sweetie" stuff? Does your new internet man know you have so many "honey"s?

I live in the South, and although I'm not a native, I've picked up some figures of speech from the region. It's not considered offensive here to call someone "honey," nor is it considered a pick-up line. My boyfriend is secure enough with himself and our relationship not to be threatened by a silly figure of speech.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

With puppies, you give a loud squeal and pull away and don't play with them for a little while. They realize they're hurting you and start using a gentler mouth.

Works the same with nursing babies. Neither of mine ever bit anyone as toddlers, I guess I squealed loud enough.

[perth]

Originally Posted by perth

My son went through a brief biting stage...

That bolded part indicates past-tense.

[garnet]

Originally Posted by perth

On rare occasion he does still bite me, mostly when we're pretending to be puppies (Yeah, we. I'm a dad, it's my job). And he realises immediately upon doing it that it was the wrong thing to do. Punishment still follows, but the important thing is that I know he knows it's wrong, so I don't worry too much about it.

And the above quote implies PRESENT tense.
Nice try.

[Trilby]

Oh, you guys! (and gals!) Just wait 'till you've got teenagers on your hands! You'll yearn for the days when the only problems were biting and diapering! My 13 year-old son is the hands-down champion of the Disgusted Eye-Roll. Teenagers are God's way of telling you that no matter what you think, you are no longer "cool" and you never will be again.

[perth]

I was just planning on trading mine in when he turns 12.

[Trilby]

I used to want another baby until I took a good look at my younger sister's 2 1/2 year old. In one day he threw celery at a friend, sneezed all over without covering his mouth (disgusting!) and then watched the same Wallace and Gromit video four times in a row. I can't get the line, "Shall we have a bit of cheese, then, Gromit?" out of my head!

[Cyber Wolf]

You can pass any 'discarded' Wallace and Grommit media my way

[OnyxCougar]

Originally Posted by wolf

Bite back. Not hard enough to bruise, but hard enough to make an impression.

Worked for me and all three of my children.

Also, on the spanking, it doesn't work on every child. My oldest son...never fazed him. The middle boy, HAD to be used, or nothing would get through. My daughter... all you have to do is look at her sternly and it has the same effect.

Each child is different.

But in ALL cases, punishment MUST be consistant.

[LabRat]

UPDATE

It's been over 2 weeks now since she has bitten anyone at daycare. (despite receiving a bite that left a mark for a WEEK!!) If she bit that day, she did not get the sucker that everyone gets when their parents pick them up. I think that made the biggest impression . She has only bitten me a couple of times lately, both right before bedtime, wherupon we immediately stopped what we were doing, got her PJ's on and went to bed. Ultimately I think we kept this to a stage rather than turning into a 'behavior problem'. Thanks for the advice, I hope it's later rather than sooner before I'm asking for more!