How to Stop Your Toddler From Biting

Biting is a normal, age appropriate behavior that many toddler children (ages 1-3) exhibit. However, it can also be hurtful to the child being bit as well as source of frustration for parents, caregivers and teachers.

So, why do toddlers bite?
There are several reasons why children bite including: teething, mimicry, sensory exploration, cause and effect, being tired or frustrated or stressed. Excessive biting is a sign of stress as well as exhibiting a high level of frustration with a situation that is "beyond his control" Sometimes it's a bid for attention or a combination of circumstances. Toddlers have difficulty expressing themselves verbally, so in many cases they find other ways of expressing themselves and biting in one of them. Quite often children even have a "favorite" person they bite, and it's often someone very close to them such as a friend, caregiver or parent.

Biting During Nap-time
A friend recently asked for help with her child during nap-time. She has twins and needed helpful hints on how to stop the one from biting the other during nap time. For her particular circumstances this former teacher offered the following ideas: place the children in separate rooms, that is it a stressful situation at nap time so find a way to make it less stressful, use a super-yard (a large size playpen of sorts that sets on the ground) to set aside a space all his own, this should keep him away from his brother as well as provide each child with much needed alone time.

Biting Toy
One other suggestion is to provide your child with a "biting toy." The child has a special toy, they could have whenever they were frustrated and they could bite it. Eventually it wasn't fun to bite anymore when there was no response or attention paid to biting. It also provided a safe method of relieving frustration.