When your child bites someone else, or when you feel their teeth sink into your own skin, it can be an unwelcome accident. But this behavior is not abnormal at all.
Why Do Children and Toddlers Bite?
Children between the ages of 1 and 3 may bite when they feel emotions such as fear, anger and frustration, they are overstimulated, or they are teething.They can also bite because someone bites them first. Toddlers often bite during fights if they feel cornered or fear they will be hurt.
Young children’s budding independence, combined with their underdeveloped impulse control abilities, makes biting a common Xi among young children.
Although a child’s bite is worrying, keep in mind that this is completely normal for babies and toddlers. Younger children may bite:
- Relieves pain during teething
- Gain a sense of control
- Explore cause and effect:”What happens if I do this?”
- Satisfying the need for oral stimulation or feeling the sensation of biting
- Express themselves when they feel overwhelmed or overstimulated
The urge to bite usually disappears around the age of three or four because children have better control of the urge and learn Xi how to use language to express their needs.
When you respond to your child’s biting behavior, remember that your child usually doesn’t want to attack others. They prefer to play, explore, and have fun with friends and caregivers.
What to Do When Your Toddler or Small Child Bites?
For toddlers and infants, stay calm and explain in clear, simple language why biting is not allowed. For older preschoolers, you can give more guidance after a bite.
If your child bites you, try not to become exhausted (this is a difficult thing to do when you feel pain). Take a deep breath before reacting. Use a firm, calm voice and maintain eye contact while reiterating the rules regarding biting.
You can say something like,”I can see you feeling upset, but I won’t let you hurt me.” Biting is not allowed.”
If your child bites you or someone else, here are some things you can do:
Make sure everyone is safe. If your child bites another child, separate the children and make sure they are not biting distance from each other. If you are an adult, please take the child away from the other person.
First aid if necessary. A person’s mouth is full of bacteria that can cause infection. If the bite does not destroy the skin, you can wash the area where the bite is being taken and move on. But if the skin is broken, the risk of infection is higher. Clean the area and cover it with a sterile bandage. If your child is bitten, take them to the pediatrician so that a professional can examine the wound. If your child bites, advise another parent or babysitter to see a doctor. You can also follow some basic tips for treating child bites.
Stay calm, set boundaries, and don’t blame or punish. Use simple, direct language to tell your child that the bite will hurt and that they are not allowed to do so. Although you may want to emphasize the seriousness of their behavior, punishing your child is unlikely to prevent it. Until children are about three years old, they do not yet understand the concept of punishment and are more likely to respond to clear and firm boundary setting.
Do not spank or otherwise hit a child because of a child’s bite or any other behavior you want to stop. Studies have shown that spanking is not effective in correcting a child’s behavior, but rather increases a child’s anger and aggression.
Keep it warm and loving. This can be difficult when you’re trying to stop a child from biting or they just bite you – you yourself may be emotional, or feel pressured to yell or stop them with force. But if you restrain your child while remembering how much you love them, your child may feel safe enough to show you how sad or angry they are.
Talk about what happened. Once you’ve both calmed down, find a quiet moment to talk about what can be done when your child feels the urge to bite. Ask:”How can you let people know that you’re angry without hurting them?” and “How can you turn to an adult for help when you don’t like the way other kids treat you?”
Do some simple role-play to solve these situations. (“You’re Sonia from preschool, you took my rabbit.”) Your child may learn some lines that can be used later. (“No!I don’t like that!”)
Also keep in mind that a child who bites may have been bitten by another child in nursery or kindergarten and may have learned this behavior from their peers.
How to Stop Toddlers and Children from Biting?
Want to try to prevent the bite from happening (or happening again)? Try these tips:
Think about when and why your child bites and react accordingly. Is it in a playgroup where another child snatches his favorite toy? When other children huddle around them? Do they try to bite you when you’re nursing a newborn baby? Your child’s teacher may also know what makes your child angry. After some time, you may be able to predict when your child is likely to have a tantrum and be ready to intervene.
Alternatives are offered. Once your child is old enough to communicate, teach them to use words like “no” and “stop” instead of biting.
Distract your child. If your child is emotionally high and you’re worried that they’re ready to attack a friend (or you), turn their attention to other activities, such as dancing, painting, or playing games.
Stop children before they bite. Warning signs such as crying, yelling, stomping, and pounce are usually preceded by a bite. If your child keeps biting, watch and intervene before they bite again. Keep your child physically at distance and calmly prevent them from gnashing their teeth at those who upset them. You might say “I can’t let you hurt another person” while holding them gently but firmly or gently covering their mouth with your hand. If they bite you anyway or continue to try to bite another child, remove them from the scene or end the game.
Use positive reinforcement. When a child’s language and social skills are more developed, biting behavior usually decreases around the age of 3 or 4. Children at this age can express their feelings, share, and begin to understand another child’s point of view. Tap into your child’s growing emotional intelligence by praising them for their good behavior and helping them make and keep new friends. Young children, on the other hand, are not yet able to recognize their feelings. To reduce biting incidents, always follow the “don’t bite” rule and plan ahead to avoid situations that could trigger your child.
Unravel the mystery of biting. Talk about biting – but don’t preach – or play a simple game. Ask your child to tell you about some of the foods they like to bite into. Or say the names of everyday objects (cupcakes, tables, dogs, bananas) and ask the child if they can bite them. You can get stupider and stupider (cars, vacuum cleaners, daddy’s shoes) and you can both laugh at it. You can also read books about occlusion. Experts recommend Elizabeth Verdick’s “Teeth Are Not for Biting,” Karen Katz’s “No Biting,” and Margie Palatini’s “No Biting, Louise.”
Give your child a bite alternative. Teething babies and toddlers who need oral stimulation may benefit from teething toys or other safe objects for them to chew on. You can also communicate with your child when they feel the urge to bite. Tell them to talk to you when they want to bite and you’ll give them something they can bite because biting hurts.
Talk to your pediatrician. If your child’s biting behavior appears excessive or becomes more aggressive even with these interventions, contact your pediatrician. Biting is normal for young children, but if the behavior persists after age 4, it may be time to discuss your concerns with a doctor who can help you develop a solution.
What to Do if Your Child Bites Himself?
If your child intentionally harms themselves, your concern is correct. First, ask yourself what might be behind this. Biting and other forms of self-harm, such as headbanging, can be a way to cope with negative emotions.
Your child’s attempts to harm themselves may also be a way to get your attention. When this happens, do not punish your child and do not make a fuss about the bite itself, as this reinforces the behavior. Instead, focus on giving your child enough one-on-one attention and talk to them about their feelings.
Fortunately, extreme behavior in children at this age tends to end abruptly, just as abruptly as it began. But if your child intentionally hurts themselves and you’re concerned, talk to your pediatrician. For young children, recurrent self-injurious behaviors, such as biting, and many other behaviors can be signs of a developmental disorder such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Whatever the reason behind the behavior, you and the pediatrician will be able to find out the truth that will help your child get through it.