Tackling Your Toddler’s Biting Habit
Somewhere between one and three years old, toddlers tend to start a biting habit. This is a normal phase of toddler development. The most common reason for this problem is that this is one of the few ways that toddlers can effectively communicate with others. Not all children are biters, however. Some of them shove, hit, pinch or grab. That’s probably just as bad!
Another reason that toddlers bite is that they feel frustrated because their motor and communication skills are so limited at this time.
A toddler likely finds it amusing when mommy jumps straight up, or a little friend starts crying. Another reason for biting is that the toddler is teething or because they just think everything should go in their mouth so why not someone’s arm? The problem could even be as simple as being hungry.
What are the ways in which your child can learn that biting is wrong? It has to be completely understood that biting is bad behaviour and can hurt others. Help them to understand that other kids feel pain when your little one bites them. Be sure to let your toddler know that biting is not allowed, that it’s wrong, and that it makes you unhappy.
If you think that your little one is biting out of frustration, help your toddler find another way to communicate that they’re having a hard time. Although it seems a gargantuan effort for your toddler to communicate with words, this is a great time to start teaching them the right words for a situation.
For example, “You need to tell mommy or daddy that you need help and not bite us.” Or “Show mommy what you need, but don’t bite. You’ll hurt her if you bite, and I know you would never want to hurt mommy.” This may bring a cloak of shame of what they are about to do and they may think their actions over again before actually biting.
Parents should not let biting become the center of attention. This is true of all behavior that you do not want to see repeated. Let your toddler know, firmly yet gently, that biting is not permitted, that it’s wrong and that it hurts everyone, grownup or child.