Flag as Not Acceptable?
We review flagged content and enforce our Terms of Use, in which content must never be:
- Profane or sexually explicit
- Disrespectful or abusive
- Infringing of copyright
Parentpedia
Biting
What Experts Say
When your child bites, it can make you feel like a bad parent or worry about your child being kicked out of playgroups or daycare, but take solace in knowing that biting is normal developmental behavior for babies and toddlers. It's often just a phase, according to T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., who notes that the majority of children stop biting by the time they are 3 or 4.
Biting is often motivated by frustration -- toddlers have low thresholds for frustration and don't know how to react when pushed to their emotional brink. A variety of situations can trigger biting, and understanding them can help you rectify things. Your child may be angry that another tot took away her toy or she may be tired. She may be trying to get your attention while you're talking to a friend. Or she may have teething pain.
If you spot your child about to bite, calmly try to diffuse the situation by saying, "You don't bite your friend" or gently cupping your hand over your child's mouth.
If your toddler has already chomped down on someone, tell her it's not okay to bite. Comfort the person who has been bitten, while saying something to your child like, "Biting hurts. We don't bite people."
ParentPedia contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of ParentPedia, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.
The contents of ParentPedia are intended for educational purposes only. Such contents are not intended to, and do not, constitute medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on information presented on ParentPedia is at your own risk.
Thank You!
Thank you for helping us maintain a friendly, high quality community at Family.com. This comment will be reviewed by a community moderator.
