Toddlers do the most adorable things: Give unexpected hugs, squeal with laughter, and cuddle up to you when they’re tired. But as any parent of a toddler will tell you, they also do some not-so-adorable things, like kick, scream … or bite.
Biting is very common in early childhood. Babies and toddlers bite for a variety of reasons, such as teething or exploring a new toy or object with their mouth. As they begin to understand cause-and-effect, they also might bite a person to see if they can get a reaction. Biting tends to happen most often between the first and second birthday. As language improves, biting tends to lessen
Biting also can be a way for toddlers to get attention or express how they feel. Frustration, anger, and fear are strong emotions and toddlers lack the language skills to communicate how they are feeling. Instead, they may bite as a way of saying, “Pay attention to me!” or “I don’t like that!” Toddlers may also learn that biting can be used as a tool for accessing a desired item.
What can we do to minimise biting incidents?
- Step 1: Be calm and firm. Address your child with a firm “biting hurts!” Keep it simple and easy for a toddler to understand. Make it clear that biting is wrong, but avoid lengthy explanations until your child is old enough to understand. Remaining as calm as possible will help resolve the situation more quickly.
- Step 2: Comfort the victim. Direct your attention to the person who has been bitten, especially if it’s another child. If there is an injury, clean the area with soap and water.
- Step 3: Comfort the biter, if need be. Often, toddlers don’t realise that biting hurts. It’s OK to comfort a child who feels upset about hurting someone. But if the biter is using the behaviour to gain attention, you don’t want to reinforce this behaviour by giving comfort and attention.
- Step 4: Redirect. Distraction works wonders with children this age. If emotions and energy levels are running high or if boredom has set in, help redirect a little one’s attention to a more positive activity, like dancing to music, colouring, or playing a game.
When Should I Call the Doctor?
Biting is common in babies and toddlers, but it should stop when children are about 3 years old. If it goes beyond this age, is excessive, seems to be getting worse rather than better, and happens with other upsetting behaviours, talk to your child’s doctor. Together you can find its causes and ways to deal with it.
