Frequent biting by 9 month old

In society, biting tends to be right up there with hitting when it comes to unacceptable behaviour by children. Children may be kicked out of nursery or playgroup for biting. Parents tend to not let their children play with "biters". Therefore, this behaviour is one that should be extinguished at its earliest possible stages.

The discovery of biting occurs generally around 9 months to 1 year when teething and putting objects in the mouth are a normal part of life. As the child gets older, before good verbal skills have been acquired, he may use biting as a form of communication to get attention. It is not until age 3 or so that biting becomes an actual act of voluntary aggression.

To deal with this one should:

1. Make "No biting" an absolute rule even in play. Explain to the child that biting hurts.
2. In the younger child, say “We don't bite people” and then distract the child into doing another task, or remove him from temptation by putting yourself in between the child and the person being bitten, or give him a object he can bite on.
3. In the older child, a firm, "NO" and a time-out is helpful especially if you can catch him before he actually does the biting.
4. Resist a physical punishment. Biting him back, slapping the cheek, pinching the mouth, etc only gives a physical retribution for his aggressive behaviour.
5. Resist giving your child "love bites". As much fun as this can be, your child won't be able to distinguish these from real bites.
6. Remind him of what good behaviour is before entering a situation in which he is at high temptation to bite.
7. Remember to praise good behaviour.

Melissa, your child is just at the teething stages. A toy is as good as an arm at this stage of the game. Therefore, you are at the perfect stage to begin teaching him the rule of no biting. A simple "No biting" and then moving him out of temptation is the best strategy for now. More elaborate gestures or discipline may actually encourage him because he will realise that biting evokes quite a response from you.