need advice on stopping DS from hitting & biting

JJ never was a hitter but recently it has become a constant thing. The past two nights, we were out with friends & he has hit their kids I feel like such a failure with him. No matter how many times you tell him "NO" he laughs & thinks its a joke. He also has attempted to bite myself & his brother (I know he is teething & did this the last time but still)

I feel so helpless. I cried so hard last night thinking he is going to be the kid that no one wants to play with because he hits. Any advice?

Re: need advice on stopping DS from hitting & biting

My dd is only 3 months but I was a daycare provider for 10 years (not saying I'm an expert because I'm far from it) and I'll tell you this they grow out of it!!! Especially if he is teething (not sure how old he is) but they get over. Firmly pull him off you when he is biting and in a stern voice no yelling telling him "no, bitting hurts", he will know you mean business from your tone. If he is over 2 you could use a time out or what I personally find works better is redirect him. If he can talk encourage him to use "his words" rather than his hands to get what he wants from other children. Don't beat yourself up most kids hit other kids from time to time especially when they are younger. Trust me most of them learn quickly if they want to play and be accepted they have to find other ways of communicating.

Re: need advice on stopping DS from hitting & biting

They really do grow out of it...DS was biting everyone...it was awful! I was just super vigilant and made sure I was on top of him when he was near other kids and of course I got a few chomps myself...but it just kind of went away one day it seems. Now it's been about a month without him biting and not even trying.

We just kept telling him no biting even though I don't know how much he actually understood.

Re: need advice on stopping DS from hitting & biting

DS started hitting me around 15 months old. I was the only one he hit. He thought it was funny and saying "no" didn't work. It got worse and worse. I started using time out. I put him in the corner for 1-2 minutes and told him he was in time out. He was pretty good about staying in the corner for that short period of time. He really hated it and it only took a few times before he stopped hitting me. The threat of a time out was almost always enough to make him stop. He's almost 2 and I can't even remember the last time he hit me. It has been well over 6 months. Hopefully it will work with your DS. Good luck!

Re: need advice on stopping DS from hitting & biting

DS was a biter for a while (around 10 months-16 months). Fortunately for him I was the only person he bit. At first I would say "no" firmly, but by 12 months I started disciplining with time outs.

Eventually the phased passed.

Re: need advice on stopping DS from hitting & biting

DS had a short hitting phase. We sternly said no and gave him a time out. I think we gave him about 3 time outs in about 2 weeks. Then we'd say, "gentle gentle" and stroke gently instead of hitting. Somehow this worked. He hasn't hit since.

Re: need advice on stopping DS from hitting & biting

thanks ladies, DS will be 15 months tomorrow. I will just stay on top of him & hope he grows out of it fast

Re: need advice on stopping DS from hitting & biting

josh was sooooo bad with the hitting.
then started biting.

it was a terrible phase...but that was it a phase.
once he turned 2...forget it. he is the best. i can't imagine him hitting anyone ever now.

good luck!