The remedy to biting was only a kiss away.

 I have biter on my hands. I’m not entirely surprised, in my experience most males have that primal urge but this time it was my little monkey and my responsibility.

The first incident was more of a nibble so I thought it might be a sign of affection. Then I thought he may be trying to copy me since I do sometimes pretend his arm is a cob of corn and do a little nibble-like playing.

The next time though was a definite bite with marks left on my arm. I responded with a firm no and unhappy face. He laughed in response, uh oh. Then I heard that if you bite them back just once then they will get that it hurts and not do it again. That didn’t work out, I didn’t bite hard enough to register the hurt part so the take away lesson seemed to be that its ok to bite and Mama bites too.

It was clearly time to consult the “Big Book of Parenting”. There was a whole chapter dedicated to biting and according to the experts toddlers under two do not have the cause and affect capability yet so the old disengage and distract is the best method.

I tried ignoring him but those are some sharp teeth sinking into my skin and I have a very low pain threshold. Then he started biting other family members including our dog Jack who looked particularly bewildered. He looked at me as to say “You told me he got to eat what you eat because he is not a dog and this is clearly dog like behaviour” Sorry Jack.

I tried to offer him a chew toy instead, no deal. I was running out of ideas and patience when a breakthrough happened.

You know what finally did it? Replacing the bite with a kiss.   

Every time he’d go in for the bite I looked him in the eye and said “kiss please” and he kissed me instead. Now my little lover boy is kissing up a storm and eating up all the praise and love that comes back to him when he smooches.

I am a firm believer that love conquers all and that kisses are the answer to many of life’s challenges but thanks Universe for this really clear reminder.