How to Stop a Toddler Who Bites

Frustrated toddlers may try to get attention by biting their parents.

Biting is a common -- but natural -- toddler behavioral problem. According to child psychologist Penelope Leach, young mammals use their teeth as weapons; so it is instinctive for small children to bite when they feel threatened. Unfortunately, this natural reaction can create social problems for a child. Biting hurts other people. When a toddler bites frequently, it can cause other children and even adults to avoid and dislike him. By helping your toddler communicate her negative feelings in a more effective way than biting, you can reduce her frustration level and improve her relationships with other people.

Instructions

1. Identify why your toddler is biting. Toddlers often bite as a way to express frustration, anger or anxiety. They may be overtired, hungry or overstimulated. In some cases, they may simply be playing or trying to be affectionate and don't realize they are hurting you. If you can identify the reason why your toddler bites, you will be better able to respond properly to the behavior.

2. Tell your toddler that he shouldn't bite. Keep your explanation brief, such as "Biting hurts. No biting." Toddlers respond better to brief statements of rules, since they don't have the attention span for a long lecture.

3. Comfort your toddler's victim, if she bit another child. Give the bitten child a hug. Clean and bandage the bite, if the child is bleeding. Make sure most of your attention goes to treating the child your toddler bit -- not your toddler -- to prevent her from thinking biting is a good way to get attention from you.

4. Address the underlying problem causing the biting. Put a tired toddler down for a nap. Give a hungry toddler a snack. Calm down an overstimulated toddler by removing him from the activity or noise that has wound him up. Help a toddler resolve the negative feelings that led to the biting incident, if possible. For instance, if he bit anther child because he wanted a toy the child had, find a different toy he can play with instead.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't bite your toddler back when she bites you. Young children learn proper behavior by following their parents' example. Biting your child back actually models to her that biting is acceptable behavior under certain circumstances -- such as when you are angry or upset.

References

• BabyCenter; My Toddler Bites. Should I Bite Her Back?; Penelope Leach
• Child-Care-Business.com; Stop Toddler Biting; Julie
• Aware Parenting Institute; How to Stop a Toddler From Biting; Aletha Solter