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My child is 2 1/2 years old. Her mother lives in another state and has spoardic contact with my daughter. My daughter has began to bite the other kids in her daycare and no matter what we do it keeps getting worse. Her pediatrician said that she needs to be spoken to and removed from the situiation. This is not working. How can I get my daughter out of this habit? My daughter lives with me, my father and brother at the moment. We all live in a small apt. We will be moving to florida within the next 3 weeks and she will have more room and a big back yard. I believe that the daycare is not equiped to deal with this type of situiation.My mother suggested a child psych but i am not positive that it is a good idea to put another person in her life and than talke them away. I am trying to make her life as stable as possible. We moved in here out of necessity and it is just crowded. We have only been here a few months. When her mother is around she is drunk so i think i may have to stop the visitrs all together. I am 31 years old. and currently work full time. My hours are either 6-3 or 9-6. My daughter is well behaved for the most part. She does not throw many temper tantroms any more.Any help would be greatly appreciated. My goal is to teach my daughter not to berade or deminish her.

Dr. Steven Kairys Replied: if she only bites at daycare and not at home or with other children in other situations then there is something at the daycare that is increasing the frustrations. Uusally immediately removing and using time out does work-Also a lot of praise when she doesn't do it in a situation when she usually does. Also, trying to understand what provokes the episodes and then trying to anticipate and divert her to other ways before the biting occurs
Posted On 2007-02-15 11:22:58

Beverly Willett Replied: It sounds like there's a lot of stress and change in your life right now. Children sense frustration, too. And biting may be your daughter's current way of dealing with hers. For now, I'd suggest continuing to follow your pediatrician's advice, and give it time. Sometimes it takes more time than we as parents think it ought to take, but each child is different. Consistency in your handling the matter is key. Make sure, too, that you tell your daughter "no" when she bites. And try giving her a time out whenever she bites; suggest the daycare center do the same. Be firm, but otherwise try not to get angry. Given what you've told me, it doesn't sound like rushing off to see a child psychologist is warranted right now, especially before you move. Also, while your daughter is probably too old to be teething, better to check that out with your pediatrician just to be sure. If it is, your pediatrician should be able to suggest something that will soothe your child's gums. When my teenage daughter was little, she was a "biter," too. We thought she'd never grow out of it, but she did. Looking back, it's funny how one day it just seemed to go away. With kids I've learned that, more often than not, the problems we think will never disappear become a faint memory over time. Ever notice, too, how sometimes the more we want something to go away, the more it persists? Finally, remember that your daughter's biting doesn't mean you're failing as a parent. To the contrary, it sounds like you have your daughter's best interests at heart. Keep it that way, keep loving her, and try not to worry. My thoughts go with you in your upcoming move.
Posted On 2007-02-13 22:49:45