22 Month Old Girl - Serial Biter

[mishmc]

My 22 month old daughter is about to get kicked out of daycare for biting - she's been there since she was 3 months old. She adjusted to daycare well, but started biting back in August when still in the infant room. They moved her to the pre-toddler room and it tapered off, but now it is an every day occurence. Bites are unprovoked when another child gets in her space. Sometimes seems to be territorial when another child approaches and she is with a caregiver. They don't do time out, but tell her biting hurts, removes her situation, and they give attention to the victim, etc. This daycare has a good staff ratio - 3 caregivers for 12 kids in this room. They've been shadowing her, but it happens if they turn away for a second. Even tried paying for a 4th caregiver this week just for her, and there have still been attempts. She actually bit a child today while she was sitting at the high table (not sure how she managed it).

She has always been very social and joyful. Sleeps well, speech is really coming along (lots of 2-word phrases now). She certainly gets frustrated easily. Only child, we're in our late 30s. No problems at home, just normal stresses of 2 working parents. Pedi doesn't think she has a developmental/sensory problem, but recommended we consider a one-on-one situation for her.

What do you recommend?  Found another daycare who will take her, but afraid the same thing will happen there and she will have to be disrupted again. Nannies are expensive, and we don't have room for an au pair. Could try to find a home care situation with just a few kids, but again, the same thing could happen. Wish one of us could stay home with her but not possible. Worried that she won't grow out of this any time soon. Also worried if we are doing something wrong, or if she's going to turn into a holy terror. She occasionally bites me out of frustration (or attempts), but not an everyday thing. Help!

[Encephalomalcia]

Our daughter also was a biter and she bit up until the age of 3.  We questioned everyone at Early Childhood Education teachers, parents, and outside professional and nobody had any advice on what to do.  She would just be playing with two girls and having a good time and then bite one for no apparent reason.  She would get upset that the child got bit, even though the child got bit by her.  She would bite her sisters and it would bleed. She bit both my husband and myself.  She was happy, the biting just happened almost like she had no control over it.  We just kept telling her not to bite and would not give her any attention.  We tried not to create to much attention around the room after the bite, in case that was the rush for her.  She eventually stopped biting.