Children at 1-2 yrs old bite frequently.
Partly because everything goes into their mouth, partly from teething,
and partly because they think it is funny because you laughed. They
also bite later this year because they cannot communicate. If you jump
and squeal when they bite you, they laugh and you just rewarded the
behavior. Give some discipline and at this age it is corporal
punishment.. i.e. pain. You can use time out more near 18 months old.
You can swat his bottom or legs, flick his ear, or squeeze his cheeks
hard but you have to do it enough to cause pain. If the punishment does
not hurt then it will not change behavior. (If the policeman catches
you speeding and all he does is wave and smile, you are not going to
stop speeding.) Don't leave a bruise but some times you have to come
close. If you gently pat his hand when he touches the electric outlet
and he laughs, then you are rewarding the behavior. You are better off
ignoring it than rewarding it. So find something that hurts. Then
repeat the punishment every time he does it. Increasing the severity will not
teach it sooner. I would spank my child for playing with the electric
outlet 10 times a day and the next year he touched it less. So don't
give up and keep up that mild discipline.
Later this year he will bite because he
cannot communicate. When he gets into a disagreement like he is
fighting over a toy with another child. He cannot discuss it "you had a
turn it is now my turn." So he only has 5 choices. They are to kick,
hit, bite, scream, or run to mother/daycare person. But oh don't hit.
And oh don't kick. And if they scream you say be quiet. And if the
child comes crying about the toy you say "You go and play and get
along." So he is left with biting as an 18-24 month old and it is very
effective. It gets the other child's attention and frequently gets the
toy. In that situation we tell him no, use time out (I never agreed
with biting them for biting.. I am doing what I don't want them to do.)
and make sure he did not get rewarded by getting the toy.
So for now find what discipline you want to
use and keep doing it. But he has to cry and understand it is wrong by
your reaction.
