Children start off biting for two reasons: they are teething or there is a language block and they are not getting their point across. Not knowing how to get your point across causes frustration in a toddler and  they use biting to get out the frustration.

Other children who are watching can learn this behavior, especially if the biter gets his  way. This is why it is important to ‘address the crowd’ when biting happens. Seeing and hearing from you that the biter did not get what he was looking for can help deter other children from using this method of negotiation.

What Do I Do If My Child Bites?

Give your initial attention to the child that was bit. Soothe them and take care of the wound. Next, get on eye level with the biter and say “No. We don’t bite.” If the biter is teething, give them something to pacify that problem. If not, a timeout is in order. Then have the biter apologize. A child that does not talk yet can give a hug or a pat on the back.

Lastly, address the crowd. Give all of the peers that saw the situation the correct way of handling it. Use the words that should have been used and teach each little one the language they need to get along. Read a story about not biting and comment when children handle situations without biting out loud, where their peers will hear it.