So my twinkies go to daycare twice a week and they love it, I love it, we all love it. Getting them fed, dressed and out the door I don’t love, but watching the car speed down the driveway has me smiling into my coffee mug. I have almost an hour to myself, something that I cherish like a meth addict would cherish good dental insurance. Then I myself am off to the land of traveling sales, by noon I miss my little dudes. I love their teachers and the care they receive and I just live for the daily written reports. My day is not complete if I don’t have the full monty on their poops and eating. I just need to know these things. Then there is the part of the report that explains what they did for the day and what exactly the masterpiece they came home with is.
Today the daily report was um…a little different in nature. I noticed immediately that it appeared to be two pages long. Never before has this happened. Within 30 seconds I get to “the incident”. Apparently William mistook his brother’s meaty thigh for a chew toy and bit him. Tears of course ensued and lots of hugs for Finn and a timeout for Will. On one hand I am beyond delighted that it wasn’t another child, but it did bring me back to the days of hearing horror stories of kids that bite. I am not concerned that Will is destined to be a cannibal or suffering from some sort of over-diagnosed spectrum disorder. Frankly, I think he got pissed-it happens. I don’t condone it by any means but I do think it is normal. For the record my Finn has been known to tackle his brother on occasion as well. We do discipline them by way of talking about right and wrong but they are twins and siblings, afterall.
This brings me to the topic about biting in daycare. I am not sure what is worse, being the one bit or the parent of the biter. I was lucky they are related. What is your take? What situations have you run into?
-B
By the way, there’s still time to enter yesterday’s caption contest- don’t be a wallflower!
We’ve linked this post up with Serenity Now- check it out!
mamateurs
Good question!!! I don’t know! I would love to know if anyone knows how to stop the biting if and when it happens?
Another good question, Rachael! Thankfully, I haven’t had to deal much with this issue yet, as Ben seems to prefer biting wood furniture, as opposed to flesh
I am sure as more of his classmates get teeth though, I will become increasing familiar with it! -J
My little Finn went through a time where he would bite my husband on the shoulder. He also was known to head bang, that is a whole other post! I personally believe that as infants/even toddlers they aren’t always able to really voice their frustration or want for something. Biting gets a reaction and frankly it feels good for those teethers. I must admit that one time when Finn bit his dad, my hubby gave him a nip back. Nothing to hard but it did startle the little dude enough to never take a bite out of his dad again. I have heard mixed reviews on that approach, not sure I could bring myself to do it, but it has worked for many. I have been on both sides though. Having a biter and having a kid that has been biten. Parents always seem to react in horror on either end and the one’s with the biter are usually very embarassed. Been there! It is a tough spot to be in but one that I think more parents/babies experience than not. Just like the fact that you don’t see first graders in diapers you often don’t hear about a biting school age child, so for me I believe it is a stage, something they grow out of and one that hopefully goes by fast for parents!
As the mother of a hopefully “reformed” biter I can promise there is nothing more horrifying than hearing your child has bitten another. After MANY calls to the pediatrician and asking every mommy friend I knew I was reassured that it is just a stage. We did notice his biting incidents occured when my son was tired, feeling threatened and unable to communicate his frustration (he does have a speech delay). It seemed like once we got down to his level and helped him express his feelings in other ways the biting has stopped…hopefully! Great topic and thanks for sharing, it is nice to hear from other parents of biters.
I don’t know how reformed Jack is…he has been known to “kiss with his teeth”
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we had a biter … he was bitten at daycare and then started his own biting binge. one of the most horrifying incidents I’ve ever endured was arriving to pick up my son at daycare and seeing a perfect dental record imprint on a angelic little girl’s cheek. We eventually removed him from the daycare program at request of the program director, which was hard and humiliating but what else could she do? All sympathy to everyone going thru this tough stuff … the good news for us was that changing the environment did help our son … and now he’s a wonderful 18 year old … you can make it through this!
Melissa thanks for your input. It is very comforting to hear that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and as upsetting and embarassing as it can be, everyone survives:)
I checked out your blog as well! http://joyineveryseason.blogspot.com/ Love it! Some great photos and quotes, thank you for stopping by. Hope to hear more from a veteran mamateur