Biting

[luvmaboyz]

Mitchell is 13.5 months old. He is a cuddly kid, and has a nice nature. BUT, when he is tired, he beats me up. He does it with a smile on his face, but it still bloody hurts. He used to pull my hair, but he has stopped doing that. Now he pinches my face, and last night he bit me. I know he is doing it only cos he is tired and is trying to stay up (what better way to stay awake than to hear mummy cry 'No, that hurts). Question is, how to stop it. I know not to pay too much attention to it, that is why he is doing it, but I worry that he may bite someone else.

Thankfully, noone else is the victim yet (he used to pull my nephew's hair, now he just pats him on the head well okay he pats it pretty hard).

[Grandma_Queen]

I have a similar problem with ds only with him it is pulling hair and pinching. It seems to be getting a little better but then it regresses.

We have done the following so far:

1) Taught him to Touch Nice (a gentle touch). He does this, especially when reminded--long enough to get the victim off guard, and next thing we know someone has been pinched or hair has been pulled.

2) Time outs and a stern talking to by Daddy or Mommy ("You are hurting other people. If you hurt other people they won't want to be around you. You hurt your mommy, and that is why she stopped nursing you" etc.) He is usually very contrite after this and will go to the victim, touch him/her nicely, and give a hug.

I think these have helped him be less of a barbarian, but on another level I am still looking for help dealing with this. It has been going on for months despite the fact that we have been working with him that whole time. Complicating the situation is the fact that he pulls his own hair a lot (don't know why), and will pinch-grab at air if there is nothing to grab nearby; it seems to be some kind of self-soothing behavior.

I guess this post is more-or-less some ideas for you and a please help me too.

Joy