HELP, I have a biter!?

You cannot teach a 1 and a half year old baby anything by using the methods you have. Time out from what? Talk about what? The kid isn't even verbal yet.

While there seems to be no antecedent to the biting, there is, but you just aren't seeing it, which isn't a criticism. Most people don't actively observe children in any systematic kind of way. That is due to the fact that they don't understand some aspects of behavior. One thing you can be SURE of, is that there is something that triggered the biting. Every behavior occurs in relationship to an environmental change, known as an antecedent. Here is actually what happens:

Antecedent - Change in the environment (seated in high chair too close to peer,) behavior - bites and consequence of the behavior, attention in this case. (ABC - Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence or reward.)

Once you realize that all behavior occurs in this very same sequence, then you can start looking at what antecedents are triggering this child. Obviously, proximity to other children is one. Lack of supervision is another. So the first advice is during certain situations, especially when feeding or giving attention to other kids, keep him away from other kids so that he cannot bite them. Always be alert, especially when you begin observing him. If you can find out what is triggering the behavior, then the most likely treatment for a child this age is to manage the triggers so that he does not get the chance to bite.

The other thing you can do, is stay very close to him when he is with another child and praise or give food rewards for positive behaviors such as sharing toys, smiling at friends, nice touch etc. This way you are giving attention to the behaviors that you want to see. This is the only way to handle a baby who has behavior issues. Punishing him probably will not work and talking with him will not work either.

Also, you need to look at anything that changed in the environment when he first started biting because it is a big clue to his behavior.

Ive worked with young ones for years and know that stuff happens QUICK no matter how much proximity or supervision you give. You sound experienced so Im not going to rant on stuff you already know. Keep doing what your doing by telling him no and biting hurts. Tell him after every incident bite on this and give him a frozen teething ring. Tell him what we do bite. We bite food, not people. Ultimately we are giving them the language skills to use instead of biting, although it sounds like this little guy bites for various reasons. He is young for this next trick

but I find it works in many child incidents. When he bites bring him a ice pack and you and him hold it against the hurt child while using child language (hurt, ouch, feel better, made her sad,etc) This is more proactive than timeout and helps create empathy so yes he is young but its worth a try =). Also I would NOT administer anything without parent permission and even then its a slippery slope. I might use lemon juice if you do try that tactic. The parent seems to be a little passive about the situation. She needs to understand she needs to be more active in helping you get it to stop. You dont want to lose a child in your business because of the biter. Its hard dealing with a biter. Hope this helps some. Good Luck, hon

It seems like you've done some great things by trying to figure out why the biting has occurred, that's always the first step. For a 1.5 year old, typically time out and talking about it are not going to change the behavior. It sounds like the biting is stemming from both teething and attention-seeking. I would recommend either a chewy tube on a necklace or bracelet. You can either buy these online from a special needs website, or simply use an infant teething toy. Try your best to separate them when possible, but if biting does occur, simply say "no biting" and place the chewy in his mouth. Keep it short and simple so that he gets no attention and give all your attention, even if it is overly excessive, to the little girl. The biting could also possibly be a sensory seeking behavior, so keeping something appropriate for him to chew on us important.

Give him a little drop of cider vinegar after he bites, but also keep doing what you are doing and talking to him why biting is wrong. He needs to know that you aren't doing it to be mean but this is what happens if you choose to bite people (cause and effect). Maybe associating a bitter taste after biting someone will get through his head. I did this with a kid I babysat who sucked his thumb and it worked brilliantly.