Please advice- Toddler hurting/biting!

I am desperate for advise please!

Why is my toddler (19months) smacking, pushing and biting his peers??
What is causing him to do this and not other kids? Everyone else's kids seem so weell behaved!
What can I do to stop it?
I try showing him to be gentle and nice but either he smirks and runs away or his 'making nice' turns out pretty harsh!
HELP MEEE
Anywhere I take him I am constantly grabbing him away from the other kids!

Bump.. Please ??
What am I supposed to do?
WHere do I turn to for help?

I had EXACTLY the same thing. I would have to chase my baby in the park, be right behind him, never get to sit down witht the other mothers and apologise to every mother in the park because my son but their kid.

I stopped going to the park, but I would try to make small play dates with other kids. Whenever my kid but I would plonk him down on the floor- pretty hard on his bottom, look him in the eye and tell him we do not bite in a harsh tone, then walk away and ignore him for about 30secs. It really helped because he got so upset that I was dissapointed in him. I think that method is loosley based on Reb Spetner, but I didn't hear it from her, only from others.

When my baby got a little bit older he started to understand the concept of 'onesh' a punishment. That is what I use now when he does something out of line. I give him a warning and then take away a toy or whatever he is playing with at that moment.

The whole biting thing was so hard for me- I felt so bad, but really it is nothing to do with you, just something that Hashem gave you that you need to deal with. It is no reflection on you as a mother.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you are consistent and iyH you will see results. Now my kid is 2 and he is so much better.

Senior Member Joined: Apr 08 2010 Posts: 217

Typically children this age do not know how to express themselves verbally and so tend to act out physically. That being said, it sounds like you are doing your best to teach your son proper behavior.

As an Occupational Therapist, I have seen children this age behave aggressively because they are seeking sensory input. There are a few things in play: 1. your child truly does not know he is hurting another child and 2. your child's real goal is to feel his OWN body and by hitting/biting/pushing he is in actuality receiving sensory input which feels good to him and therefore he continues to do it.

My advice is to speak with your pediatrician and do your best to have an evaluation by an OT who specializes in sensory integration.