What To Do When Toddlers Bite?
Biting is a normal part of a toddler’s development and all toddlers do bite. It is a very difficult situation for parents to deal with it, it often leads to embarrassment and because toddlers are innocent and they don’t even realize that they hurt you while biting.
IMPORTANT: What to do if your child hits or bites
There could be a number of reasons to bite. Parents need to identity the reason as to why their toddler is biting, and once they find the reason they can come up with strategies accordingly to help their toddler get off the habit. Following are the factors involved for biting:
Emotional Factor
Toddlers don’t know how to communicate with you or how to express their anger. They simply bite to seek your attention and look for a reaction. They find biting the most appropriate way to express their anger or frustration. If a toddler bites you, don’t laugh or show cold looks, as if nothing has happened even if it does not hurt you. In fact say ‘No’ in a simpler way but be firm and direct and do not make your explanation lengthy.
Physical Factors
Teething:
When toddlers are in pain, they scream and bite. The personality of toddlers change when they experience teething. They become more irritable and start to bite on anything or everything that comes their way in order to soothe themselves.
Quick tip: Track teething in your child with these symptoms
Sensory examining:
Toddlers are curious and they are always eager to explore their surroundings, this is normal behavior. You will find that your toddler will put almost everything in his mouth, from his tiny hands to anything he can lay his hands on to explore.
Fatigue:
When a toddler feels tired or frustrated for any reason like lack of peaceful sleep, or hunger or he is busy for a long period in some continuous activity that makes him tired or bored him then also there are chances of him to bite.
These are the 5 ways to stop a toddler from biting:
1. React when he bites
When your toddler bites for the first time it is only then you have to react and make him understand that it is not something which you are going to appreciate. Stop him by saying ‘No’ in a very firm tone. Let your toddler get an idea that what he did was inappropriate.
2. Communicate with your toddler
Communicate with your child as much as possible and try to understand the behavior of your child. A toddler is unable to express his feelings so he shows it by gestures. Look what makes him feel angry and frustrated and help him overcome his anger and try to tell him that biting hurts.
3. Teething solutions
All the babies bite when they are teething so it is a good idea to offer them biting tools to which they can chew or bite on, something cold or a frozen toy or bread sticks etc. There are also many types of teething toys available these days in the market.
Check out: Dealing with your child’s teething troubles
4. Teach self-assertion
Let your child express his anger. Help your child reduce his annoyance and overcome his anger by giving him some space and offer options and choices. Be a good role model and also teach your child problem solving skills..
5. Help him relax
Set a proper routine of your toddler and create a place in your house where your tiny one can feel comfortable and spend few hours around with his books and toys.
It is difficult to keep calm when your child bites, but don’t get stressed and try not to yell or give any kind of physical punishment to your child. Biting is a normal thing which every child does so have patience and help your toddler to let go of this habit.
