[Mummyjane24]

Hi all,
I have twin boys who have just turned 2 and are starting daycare 1 day a week. My problem is that one of the boys bites his 3yo sister and twin brother when he becomes really frustrated. If this happens whilst he's at daycare and he bites another child what will happen? I am aware that I could be confronted by another parent but I have informed the Childcare Centre of this behaviour and they weren't phased by it. Are there alot of biters out there? I have no control over his biting when he's at daycare. At home he gets time out and reprimanded as well as having to apologise to his siblings. It doesn't happen unless he is seriously frustrated or over-excited. I am a little nervous. What have been your experiences?

[bubmakes3]

My DS has also just turned 2 and he has also just starting biting when frustrated or angry. It is usually myself and occasionally DH who cops it and he is removed immediatly (put down or take my hand away if we are holding hands)and made to apologise.
He has biten twice at daycare in the last month and again it is when he is frustrated - waiting for his turn and someone pushes in etc. The staff are aware and watch him now and remove him if its an escalating situation. He was also biten him last week and was quite shocked I think - he continued to say 'ow my arm Mummy' and rub or point at the mark for a couple of days afterwards - hopefully this will help with his own biting but I am not sure yet!
The staff insist its common and a result of inability to communicate wants and needs etc. We try and install the same techniques that they use and hope its a phase that will pass.

I hope your twins enjoy daycare!

[Leha]

My DS is a biter. He also pulls hair, hits and scratches. I was very concerned as when I took him last year before he started to get him used to the kindy he bit another child after only being there for 20 minutes.

I spoke to all of his teachers and they have never been worried telling me it is very common. Since he started there has been quite a few incidents but he is getting better. They discipline him by removing him from the situation and telling him no which is what I do as well. I think just make sure you keep talking to his teachers, be consistent in telling him off for the biting and you should be ok.

[PurpleChicken]

My 21 mo DD is a biter. She's bitten a few times, and they generally just remove her from the class and get her doing other things for a while to let her know it's not on.

She's also been bitten quite a bit at DC. They never say which child did the biting, but just that they've informed the parents. This saves parents confronting other parents over the issue.

As long as they know he's a biter they can keep an eye on him and watch for the signs.

[amesv]

[/size]My DS was a biter from 1 -3 years old, I started him atoccasional care when he was 2 as I thought it might help to socialise withother children and be disciplined by others too. The day care workers were veryunderstanding I don't think biting is really common but common enough theyweren't surprised by it and knew how to deal with it. I always had to sign aform informing me I was told my son had bit and the details leading up to thebite, and I believe the parent of the child my son bit had to do the same.

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[galitayia]

I TO HAVE A BITER HAIRPULLER SCRATCHER AND SPITER HE IS ABOUT TO START DAYCARE FOR THE SECOND TIME TOMORROW BUT DONT WISH FOR HIM TO HAVE A BAD DAY BUT A REALLY GOOD DAY ..I HAVE NO-IDEA HOW TO STOP THIS AS HIS NOT AN ONLY CHILD HE HAS A OLDER BROTHER AND TWO OLDER SISTER'S ONLY ONE OF MY GIRL'S BITES .. IM IN NEED LIKE EVERYONE ELES ON SOMEHOW GETTING HELP OR ADVICE ON HOW TO STOP THIS !!!

[Lightning_bug]

OP, most children go through the biting stage and unless it's chronic and he doesn't respond to the carer's intervention I wouldn't be concerned.

In our case when it happens we get an incident report sent home. That's about it. Most parents are understanding that it does happen and only get concern or upset if it goes on for a long period.

Trust the carers. They have strategies and intervention techniques which they can put into place.

OP, how is your little one's communication skills? This could be off topic but with my son he had horrible frustration at that age so we taught him some basic sign language. It made a world of difference.

[trishalishous]

One of our friends sons does this, but the CC just reinforce gentle touching (hes in the baby room until june) and keep him away from the little ones.

[Bluenomi]

We have a bite at daycare and DD is his favourite target He's not the best talker and gets bored easily so he either bites because he's bored and wants some attention or because he's angry and can't express it. They are working on it but it's been going on for over a year and he still does it. I can't wait for him to leave at the end of the year and leave DD in peace!

Both parents have to sign an incident report (seperate ones) and they aren't allowed to tell the parent who bit their kid. DD dobs him in though so I know who it is. Some of the other parents really don't like it and actually tell their kids to stay away from him.

[tazcan]

Most parents are understanding that it does happen and only get concern or upset if it goes on for a long period.

I don't think most parents are understanding when their child is bitten! The daycare won't tell the parent who bit their child but with DD I always found out because she was talking well at 2 and told me who bit her. I wouldn't have confronted the parent about it (and I'm sure doing so would be against the daycare's rules), but it still made me very cross and concerned. She was once bitten on the face and if the bite had been a tiny bit harder she would have had a scar in the shape of teeth on her cheek forever. It just takes one bad bite for a scar, and I imagine being bitten is extremely painful.

At least you have warned the daycare and hoepfully they can intervene and keep an eye on your DS, particularly if he's getting frustrated.