biting & Entertaining herself

[Guest guest]

Eloisa has taken to biting. She has for the last 6 months occasionally bitten my

her dad or Phoebe (older sister) but this morning she woke up in a " lets sink

the teeth in mood " .. We are going on a picnic with some friends later on and

whilst I was making the picnic in the kitchen she stood ON TOP of my feet

through out (no matter how often I moved her) Thinking she might be hungry I

offered her some cheese chunks (normally she likes that) that got thrown on the

floor as did a strawberry so I decided she was not hungry. During this period

she tried biting me 3 times but I always managed to get a hold in her and stop

it.. Phoebe then came into the kitchen to see what I was doing (having been

playing nicely in the lounge) as she came in I was saying NO Eloisa (her on top

of my feet again and whilst she is not heavy it is not a very comfortable

feeling to have a 17 month old on your feet) so when I saw Phoebe I asked her

please would you take Eloisa into the lounge for me (normally Eloisa loves this

as it means she will get some attention from Phoebe- generally lasts for a whole

2 mins when she will return again to me) well Phoebe says Come on Elisa (her way

of saying Eloisa) and took her hand just as she did this Eloisa dug her teeth

into Phoebes hand. She has a set of 12 teeth marks on her hand now.. I feel

AWFUL as I really should have thought about the fact that Eloisa was biting (but

because I know the signs and can avoid it I had just not thought about the fact

that Phoebe would not) and also because I had asked Phoebe to take her into the

other room..

I don't know what to do about Eloisa biting she doesn't seem to get it when I

say NO (firmly) and put her down not facing us and then ignore her (in fact when

she did bite me earlier and I did it she laughed so she obviously thinks it is

funny).. Phoebe I don't recall ever biting (or maybe once or twice but certainly

no more than this) and at 17 months I don't feel I can do much more than a short

period of her being ignored where a lot of attention goes to Phoebe..

I do not want to bite her back I have a friend who did this and her son went

from a family only biter (as Eloisa is at the moment) to a lets bite everyone in

sight,.. it was like his mother biting him back made him think that he was

allowed to bite anyone.. but I am just at a loss as what else to do..

Also she doesn't seem to be very good at playing on her own. Phoebe was always

very good at this and still will happily entertain herself for up to 45 mins

while I get on with housework etc. Eloisa constantly wants attention and

someone to play with her.. I keep reading how second child gets the playing by

them self far quicker than the first one does but in my household it seems to be

the reverse..

Sorry feeling really down hearted about all this.. (dh has really not been home

since last Wednesday and I could rather do with someone to talk this through so

I guess I end up dumping it here...)

Lonnie Phoebe & Eloisa's mama

& expecting a Christmas delivery...

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what you

start.

So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a Chocolate cake.

I feel better already.