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In this Article

• Why do toddlers bite?
• How do I get my toddler to stop biting himself?
• How do I get my toddler to stop biting other children at day care?
• What should parents or caregivers do if their child is bitten?
• Should parents or caregivers discipline a toddler who bites?
• Can biting be prevented?
• Childhood Biting At A Glance
• Childhood Biting Index

Should parents or caregivers discipline a toddler who bites?

To extinguish an unwanted behavior, the toddler who bites should experience an immediate and proportional response by their parent or caregiver. Time-out serves such a role. Following a time-out, giving the child appropriate verbal expressions or other techniques to deal with their frustrations is important. Parental biting of the child does not teach the child that biting hurts but rather reinforces the biting behavior since it is often done in parental frustration/anger when other techniques have failed.

Can biting be prevented?

Nursing newborns who bite often respond well to an evaluation by a lactation specialist. Pre-toddlers' nips are generally a reflection of excitement and are generally considered part of normal childhood development. They occur so quickly that they are difficult to prevent. The biting toddler may require repeated time-outs to realize that biting is not an effective approach to his goal (such as getting Tommy's toy) but rather provides a negative experience (social separation). Children over 3 years old who repeatedly bite others or themselves warrant a consultation with their pediatrician since this behavior may reflect serious emotional or developmental issues.

Childhood Biting At A Glance

• Depending upon the age of the child (birth to 3 years old), biting behaviors may reflect normal (though frustrating) development.
• Toddlers most commonly bite their peers in a response to anger or frustration and a desire.
• Socially inappropriate behaviors respond to immediate consequences (such as time-out) and parent/caregiver suggestions for alternative techniques.
• Biting others or self-biting in children over 3 years of age should prompt a visit with the child's pediatrician.

REFERENCES:

"Biting - Topic Overview." WebMD.com. Apr. 17, 2008. <http://children.webmd.com/tc/biting-topic-overview>.

United States. Oklahoma State Department of Health. "Biting in the Toddler Years." 2000. <http://www.ok.gov/health/documents/BITING%20IN%20THE%20TODDLER%20YEARS%20rev.pdf>.