I was trying to brush my thirteen month old's teeth with a finger toothbrush and she bit down pretty hard on my finger. Aside from telling her a firm "NO!" is there anything else to teach her? That hurt a bit! Also she is into biting my skin sometimes too. I think she thinks it's a game. Thank you!
It's gonna sound mean, but my parents did this to me and I did it to my son...bite back. Not hard enough to hurt her but enough that it gets her attention.
Plus getting a toddler toothbrush instead of your finger is a very smart idea.
It is time that you get a toothbrush. They make them in stages with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. They also have a TRAINING toothpaste that they don't have to spit out. It doesn't contain fluoride. It has a little bear on the box. It is called Orajel Toddler Training Toothpaste.
As for biting my daughter does the same thing. I push her away tell her NO and I ingore her for a little bit. She hasn't been doing it lately. No need to hit. But be persistant about it. Tell her that "hurts mommy" I sometimes pretent to cry and she feels bad and tells me that she is sorry gives me a hug and goes off to play. Also explain to her that biting is bad. Good Luck!
My son did the same thing when I would use the soft finger toothbrush. After trying all sorts of things like quick little in and out brushes to avoid the teeth (lol), I just decided to buy a little elmo toothbrush and started using it so if he bit, he'd only get the toothbrush.
I'm against hitting, and toddler toothpaste should ONLY be used if the child is old enough to spit it out- so its a no go for young ones like yours.
Its a phase, they do it for the reaction, not because they realize they're hurting you. Get a small super soft bristle toothbrush and that should work. :)
I sit on the toilet with one let loosely crossed, sit my son in the little triangle my legs make so hes reclining a bit and brush his teeth that way. It took two or three days, but it works like a charm now! :)
Good luck, way to brush the teeth!
I thiink it was Brazelton who said to find another biter of the same age and put them into a room together until they both figure it out!
One of mine bit me so hard once that I nearly threw up. I put her down, and did not pick her up for the rest of the day- my husband cared for her. She never did it agian thankfully. My mother bit me back, but I did not have the heart to do it.
M.
This sounds mean but my daughter bit me once , and only once. I was carrying her and she wanted me to put her down in an area that was unsafe for me to put her down , she bit me on the muscle from the shoulder to my neck HARD , enough to leave a mark. I gave her one swat on her diapered butt and she NEVER did it again.
Now with the tooth brush , you might give her her own soft tooth brush with toddler paste on it and just teach her to use it. Instead of sticking your finger in her mouth. To me sticking your finger in her mouth is kinda asking her to bite you.
