I definitely agree with you torontokids, about teaching kids coping and calming strategies, as well as utilizing other methods to combat biting, particularly since as caregivers we can't opt for the bite-the-biter response anyway. Yelling "OW, that HURT jammiesandtea!" with a firm/mean face, with emphasis on the yell and the firm/mean face... NOT a wishy-washy/gentle reaction or even worse, a laugh.

We can agree to disagree on a parents' use of the bite-the-biter method. I respect your right to be against it. I still feel it is a logical consequence, and my discipline philosophy is based around logical consequences for behaviour. Alas, it's not a method that a daycare provider/non-parent is allowed to use, so I will continue to shadow, provide teething/biting alternatives when appropriate, teach coping strategies, and yell OW! with my mean face on when necessary. lol

Also, I fully agree, I don't think that parents must use spanking or biting etc to be authoritative, respected, and in control of their children. Not using it does NOT automatically make a parent a lenient pushover. Not at all! But a parent/caregiver does need to be the one who makes the rules, has ENOUGH rules, and enforces the rules consistently, every time, every day, in order to be authoritative, respected, and in control of the children. It sounds like you have the right mindset of parent/caregiver, not friend, and we're both living proof that you can be authoritative without the use of corporal punishment. Now if only we could get ALL the parents of the world to be more authoritative and in control, our jobs (and society!) would be so much easier and happier!