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How can I make my baby stop biting?

My 9mth old bites everything and everyone. I know he understands the word "no" as he stops what's he's doing in other situations when we say it. But not with biting...he looks at you, smiles, and chomps! Please help!

Submitted by capricorn23

Dear "How can I make my baby stop biting?"

A normal phase of biting is very characteristic of babies, and generally will pass on its own. People do not like to be bitten, so their spontaneous look of annoyance certainly communicates the natural message--"Hey! Don't do that!" Trying to negotiate or discipline or correct the behavior of a baby this young is likely to backfire however. Your only goal is to try to distract your son or move out of reach or somehow shift the action so that it is about something else. You can say softly, "No no no. No biting people!" but your main goal is simply to change the channel.

A baby of 9 months certainly undersands a great deal of what other people say, I agree. But this does not mean that a baby of 9 months is really able to reason with you or change his behavior on the basis of your words. He is still so little that his impulses are pretty much in charge of his actions. If he feels like biting, he will do it. If may be that he is expressing in this manner some of his normal emotional aggression or fighting spirit. The fact that he smiles may reflect the ordinary pleasure that he takes in this aggressive activity. This is fine and perfectly normal. When he is old enough to argue with you, he will use clever biting words instead.

Elizabeth Berger MD

Child Psychiatrist and author of "Raising Kids with Character"

Answered by Dr. Elizabeth Berger

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its something new to him so he just wants to do it... its like us when we learn somthing new we just want to do it over and over jus teach him and continue so say no

Submitted by ashleyvega

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My soon to be one year old, I realized he got a kick out of our reaction from him biting. He even does it out of anger. I redirect him and put him down and say no biting mommy and he has stopped biting me but he still bites his borthers and sister..so we continue to work on it! baby steps :-)

Submitted by nakishajasapp1

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When he bites, look at him sternly, say, "No biting, it hurts," then put him down. Try to shape his behavior by letting him know you're not going to cuddle him or feed him under this condition. Then reward his good behaviors with smiles, kisses, and cuddles. Don't tell him he's a bad boy etc, but rather focus on the behavior.