Twin Babies and Biting

Our twins are one now so I don't know if it is a solution yet. I got my first bite from one when they were about 6 months old. Now, we get a bite about once a month from one of the twins, not always the same one.

I first tried to find a pattern to the bites and came up with 2 possibilities: if you carry one belly down or if you are out WAY later than their bedtime (naughty parent). I think it is more the latter that triggers it. If we go out and it's way past their bedtime and they might know their crib or playpen is not there so there will be a drive home or to a hotel - this happens more when we are traveling and to both mom and dad, once to a friend of ours.

Our solution:

1. At the time of the bite, always put the baby down immediately. I didn't bother to say "no bite" because they don't understand no as a concept. But they know they don't like to be put down so there is a clear consequence. Fortunately, when a twin bit our friend she instinctively did the same thing.

2. We leave and we also remind ourselves not to be naughty parents and be mindful of their bedtime. We are the reason for the biting so we need to take responsibility. Their bedtime is 8 pm and so we need to be home or at the hotel. At least one parent with the twins. Sometimes we split if one parent wants to stay later.

3. Never, ever play bite. We read this makes biting a big problem.

4. We've had probably 6 bites total from both twins combined for the past 6 months...it is about 1 bite a month. We never, ever say that is an ok threshold because it is behavior that needs to be discouraged early before it escalates or affects other people's children. So we never, ever minimize the seriousness of it.