How to address toddler biting

[wendibird22]

I need advice on how to address biting with my 19mo DD2. DD1 wasn't a biter so this is new to me. DD2 is a periodic biter. She started around 9mo when she had a lot of teach, a lot of mobility (she was walking at 10mo) but no verbal language. She would mostly bite out of frustration...wanting a toy another kid had, being physically redirected from something she wanted to do, etc. She's a lot more verbal now, although still behind where DD1 was at this age, but she still bites occasionally. Sometimes it is out of frustration or anger but every once and a while it seems for no reason at all. For example the other day I was holding her on my hip and taking her up for a diaper change. She was content and then out of nowhere she bit me on the shoulder. Sometimes she'll be mad/frustrated with a toy (the toy isn't doing what she wants it to) and she'll bite the toy (she's bit the handle of the doll stroller for example when the stroller bumped into something and she couldn't get around the obstacle). Additionally she's attempted to bite when I've picked her up to redirect her from a bad behavior or if she needs to be carried somewhere when she doesn't want to go (to the highchair for a meal, inside when outside play is done, etc.).

I think she's too young to understand a time out and since it happens so infrequently and not with a consistent pattern it is hard to just anticipate and avoid. When we tell her "no bite" or "ouch, that hurt mommy" she either giggles or just runs off and plays. The day she bit me on the shoulder since I was going up to her room anyway I put her in her crib and told her "no bite" and left the room for a minute or two. I don't think it registered. The girls are starting a new daycare in a few weeks and I'm terrified of getting bite reports from DCP.

Suggestions?

[wendibird22]

Bump. Any BTDT experience?

[mikala]

At that age I often did "in the lap" timeouts. I'd say "no bite", remove us from the situation if needed, face DS away from me, wrap my arms over him and slowly and calmly count to ten or twenty. He didn't like to be restrained and would often resist initially and then slowly start to relax as I counted.

We also talk about how to express frustration and I'd sometimes hand him a soft toy to bite instead if I could see the urge coming on or demonstrate some other more appropriate way to show frustration.

We worked a lot on transitions and saying bye-bye to things before leaving to lessen the frustration.

Biting seemed to worsen when he was teething, tired, or had a dirty diaper.

Thankfully the biting phase has seemed to pass as he developed new ways to express himself.

Good luck!

Good luck!