Vivan is loving and easy going toddler. He squeals with laughter, gives unexpected hugs to his family and friends but just like other kids he does some not-so adorable things like screaming and biting. His mom says, “I could not believe it was happening. I would feel awful when he would bite children at the park or at the super market”
Those tiny teeth that once caused so much of happiness can at times lead to fear and frustration. Biting is a common childhood habit but no parents wants their kids to be labeled as ‘biters’.
Let’s understand more about the toddler biting behavior.
Why do toddlers bite
Most toddlers enjoy when they learn new things. When they bang their hand on the table they discover that it makes a loud sound. They realize that when they bite someone they get a loud scream of protest. They enjoy learning new things and often bite other children out of excitement.
Toddlers begin teething at the age of 4 to 8 months. Swelling gums can cause irritation and discomfort to them; they find relief by chewing on something. Children at this age are too naïve to understand the difference between chewing a toy and chewing on a person.
Many toddlers bite to get attention. When children are in a situation where they feel neglected they often find a way to get noticed. Biting others gives them the quick attention that they need.
Older toddlers see other kids biting and imitate the same behavior.
Toddlers are at an age where they are growing. At this age they have not learned to completely express themselves or ask for things. They get frustrated when they are not able to communicate what they want and biting is one way to express their feelings.
What parents can do?
Though biting is a common childhood habit but is important to curb the behavior in the initial stages. Read here a few tips that will prove to be useful.
1. Focus on the victim first
When a child bites focus your attention to the person who has been bitten. If the toddler is resorting to this behavior to gain attention, you can reinforce your opinion by showering your attention to the victim and not cuddling or playing with him for some time. Paying attention to the wrong doer may give him the required attention and may reinforce negative behavior.
2. Be firm
Whenever your toddler bites someone, say a firm “Stop Biting” or “No Biting”. Make it clear that biting is wrong by using a firm tone but do not shout or give lengthy explanations unless the child is old enough to understand. Being composed and maintaining your patience will help to resolve the situation quickly.
3. Pay attention to smaller details
After the situation has calmed down, try to figure out if the toddler has been resorting to this behavior to show his frustration or demand for any particular thing. You need to pay attention to smaller points to understand the exact cause of biting.
4. Time out game
For older kids who have gained this behavior by imitating other kids time-outs may be effective. You may take your kid to a designated time out area, for instance, the study room, or kitchen for a minute or two to calm down.
The timeout rule should be set as per the age of the child. For older kids aged 4-5 years the time frame could be 4-5 minutes.
5. Praise the child.
Rather than paying attention to the biting behavior reward you child with praises for every good action or behavior. Praise him when he plays well in his group. Do not just say, “Good boy!” Be specific in your praise, “You are so kind and loving.” This reinforces a positive attitude and may prevent your child from biting in the first place.
Biting is a behavior that is difficult for the parents to tackle and can make them feel embarrassed and frustrated. It is important that parents exercise a lot of patience and don’t get too angry on the child or may end up making the kid stubborn about the biting behavior.
Paying attention to the reason that causes this behavior may help parents come up with useful solutions. It is important to remember that this is passing phase and most toddlers do so only for a short while. Your toddler will soon learn new skills to communicate and get along well with others.
