Dealing with biting
Thankfully biting is usually only a phase. There are some things you can try if your child bites someone.
Things to try
- Be specific when it happens. “Stop biting it hurts.”
- Watch for signs of frustration and have distractions ready, like singing or going outside.
- Watch for signs that things aren’t going well when your child is with other children.
- Don’t bite back. That teaches that biting is ok.
- Praise your children when they play well with others.
- Focus on the child who was bitten, not the biter.
- Think about using time out for children over two.
Things to think about
- Biting is common.
- Have lots of safe objects for biting, for example teething rings.
Children might be biting because they’re:
- exploring things and people
- wanting to control a situation
- teething
- frustrated, excited or angry and don’t have the words to express themselves
- wanting attention
- responding to another child’s aggressive behaviour
- copying others
- reacting to sudden change or stress
- unaware of the pain it causes
- interested in the effect it has on others.
