How to Get a Toddler to Quit Biting

Toddlers occasionally develop bad behavior.

Toddlers exhibit a range of bad behaviors as they begin to test social boundaries. Biting is one of these negative behaviors, and you need to put a stop to it before it gets worse. Make it clear to your toddler that biting is not acceptable. As with adults, actions generally speak louder than words. After telling her not to bite, you also need to set -- then follow through with -- a clear consequence for biting.

Instructions

1. Look for the things that cause your toddler to bite. Behaviors have antecedents, and biting is no exception. If, for example, he tends to bite when he's tired or hungry, give him a snack or put him down for a nap when you see him start to fade.

2. Give more attention to the victim. Toddlers love attention, particularly from their parents and caregivers. When you give the victim the attention, the biter will realize bad behavior has negative consequences.

3. Tell your child that there will be a consequence if he consistently bites people, like timeout. Stay unemotional and avoid giving him excess attention; simply look at him and tell him "no biting -- timeout." Leave him in timeout for one minute per year of age or until he has calmed down.

4. Stick with this plan so that she receives a consequence every time she bites someone.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid biting your child or anyone else when she can see it. This seems obvious, but playful biting is something that people don't really think about before they do it.

References

• Hand in Hand Parenting: What to Do When Your Toddler Bites
• Just Mommies: When Toddlers Bite Other Toddlers