Advice to a rookie daddy (punishment, experience, Jacob)

[Victor]

My 2 year old....


has been biting his little brother......


And have patiently been trying to explain to him NOT TO DO IT. My 2 year old is extremely active. I know most kids are but I've observed him around other kids his age enough times to think he is a bit more active. His hyper-activity is followed by constant disobedience after having told him not to do it several times. I don't yell at him or anything. I just go down to his level and gently explain. Anybody have any helpful successful discipline advice for a rookie daddy?

~Victor

[Mike182]

with our dogs, we used to put them outside to "chill" for a bit if they got like this, but i don't think its quite applicable to your lovely child

i see he likes "the incredibles", good taste

[Green Gaia]

Cute kids.

My son was a biter. He didn't do it to be mean or to hurt me, he would just walk over to me and take a big hunk out of my arm. It really hurt, so thank goodness his little sister wasn't born yet. To get him to stop I had to start doing time-outs. He would bite me, I would give him a very firm, "No" then I would calmly pick him up put him in his crib (because he couldn't leave the crib), leave the room and close the door. For time-outs they say to leave the time to leave them in time-out is 1 minute for every year. So a 2 year old would be in time-out for 2 minutes. He'll scream and throw a fit, and it will take several times of doing this to get him to stop, but it should work. I got Jacob to stop biting in just a couple of days by doing this.

[Victor]

So always the same spot? The crib?

[Green Gaia]

I think that helps and it needs to be somewhere he can't leave. You're taking away his freedom to roam around, he's going to realize very soon that he's done something wrong. My son hated being alone, so by closing the door and denying him access to me, that was a horrible punishment to him at the time! It broke my heart to do it the first few times because he screamed so much, but it got the desired result.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Victor

And have patiently been trying to explain to him NOT TO DO IT. My 2 year old is extremely active. I know most kids are but I've observed him around other kids his age enough times to think he is a bit more active. His hyper-activity is followed by constant disobedience after having told him not to do it several times. I don't yell at him or anything. I just go down to his level and gently explain. Anybody have any helpful successful discipline advice for a rookie daddy?

As with most things in life, by the time you know what you are doing, it is too late! Experience takes awhile.


I have been watching loads of programs where psychologists have been brought in to help sort out children who were getting to the stage of being so disruptive as to put the parents under a dreadful strain.

All I know is that you need to treat children much as you would a pet dog; if he is seeking attention (which is what it sounds like - maybe a bit green -eyed at the new focus of attention ?) Ignore bad behaviour, reward good behaviour.

When he bites his little brother, just go, pick him up gently, and say "You mustn't do that you know, that's very naughty" as calmly as you can. Perhaps you can incorporate a small punishment of having to sit in a chair in the corner of the room ?

I even saw one program where the child who behaved well (ie in this case didn't bite his brother for two hours gets a yellow star) any little 'prize'.

It's a lot easier telling others how to do it though! Good luck.

[jeffrey]

Our 5 year old still bites. We've tried everything, including biting him back! Nothing works. We still correct him, we're just hoping he grows out of it.

[Victor]

Thanks everybody.
I think what I have been lacking is consistancy. Sometimes I'll talk to him and other times I'll punish him by taking something away. Deffinately will try out what was suggested.

~Victor

[Green Gaia]

Talk to your pediatrician as well, Victor. They've seen everything and know your son and may be able to recommend something that will work with him. Good luck.