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Coping with Toddler Biting
While toddlers are always prone to hurt themselves in their little ventures around the household, many of them use
the weapon of their teeth to hurt other children, or even grown ups. Toddler biting is one of the disturbing
behaviors that parents or guardians encounter when their children enter the toddling stage. Understanding the
causes of this behavior and seeking preventive measures is a primary concern for many parents and caretakers.
Causes of Toddler Biting
First of all, it is important to note that not all toddlers bite. However, the majority of children between one and
three years of age engage in some form of biting for various reasons. Developmental psychologists believe that the
main reason for toddler biting is the child’s inability to verbally communicate. With language skills still
developing, toddlers learn to use their teeth to invoke a response from the people around them.
Frustration can be another reason for toddler biting. If a child is angry, biting may be a way for the child to
convey those feelings to another. Toddlers may use their teeth on objects to relieve the irritation of the gums
that is caused be teething. Finally, a toddler can use biting as an attention-getting action.
How to Prevent Toddler Biting
Biting among toddlers is important to stop before it becomes a habit that is difficult for your child to break.
Toddler biting is also one of the few behaviors that can cause your child and you serious issues in preschool.
Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take to stop toddler biting before it becomes a habit for your
child.
Intervention
The primary preventive measure against toddler biting will begin with the parent. Show your disapproval for the
behavior by telling your child, “No biting!” in a stern voice and removing him from the situation. Repeat this
action as often as necessary, until you begin to see an improvement in your child’s responses. If your efforts do
not appear to be effective, recruit the help of your child’s caregivers for additional support and consistency. If
your child refuses to stop the behavior, you can consult a behavioral psychologist for other ideas.
Focusing Attention
If you give all your attention, no matter how disapproving, to the offending toddler, you are likely to strengthen
the habit of biting. The reason is that your child will quickly learn that biting brings attention. By focusing on
the person that your child bites, and showing sympathy to him, you take the attention away from your own child and
place it properly on the child who was hurt.
Teaching Language
It is very possible that once your tot learns to communicate through other means, toddler biting will no longer
present an issue. Once a child can use language to express his feelings, he will not resort to biting when
frustrated or angry.
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