Toddlers are a lot of fun. They are entertaining and have a way of melting our hearts with their cuteness. However, as they grow, they can become more difficult to handle. They’re learning about the world and themselves, and sometimes that means they’re going to bite. It can drive parents crazy, but with a happy attitude and a few tips and tricks, it doesn’t have to push them to tears.
Why Do Toddlers Bite?
Understanding why a toddler bite is the first step to helping manage the biting. Sometimes the reason may not be clear, but other times it can be quite obvious. It might be normal behavior for a child, but it happens for a variety of reasons. By biting, toddlers may aspire to:
1. Relieve Teething Pain
Teething is one of the most common reasons for biting. Babies and toddlers can’t tell you that their gums are sore and need something to chew on, so they may try to bite you instead. New teeth fill in, and their gums may be sensitive, so they may bite to relieve the pain.
2. Get Attention
Toddlers bite as a way to get attention from parents and other people. They’re learning about their world and are trying to figure out how they fit in. When they see people or hear sounds that capture their interest, they may bite to get closer or learn more about something. The act of biting can be a means of attention-seeking.
3. Express Their Emotions
Biting is a way for toddlers to express their emotions. They’re trying to tell you what they’re feeling, but they don’t have the words yet. Toddler biting may be a cry for help, but it’s also an attempt to express the anger or frustration they’re feeling.
4. Change In Routine
Mealtime, bedtime, and other daily routines can be difficult for toddlers. They’re struggling to understand their world, so disruptions in their habit may frustrate them. Sometimes they may bite as a way to get back at you or express their frustration at the change.
5. Must Feel In Control
Biting is a way for toddlers to feel in control of the situation and themselves. If they’re unable to control their body, they’ll bite as a way to gain some control over it. They are asserting independence and power.
The Best Way To Handle Toddler Biting
Knowing the reasons behind the biting and having a plan to prevent it will help you handle toddler biting. You can use these tips and tricks to help you.
1. Keep Teething Off Limits
Teething is a somewhat normal part of growing up for all children, but your toddler may not realize it hurts. They might bite if they are teething, and if they do, they may injure themselves. If your toddler bites while teething, keep them away from the source of their pain.
You can help them through this difficult time by:
- Use a cold washcloth on their gums
- Use a teething necklace to help them through the process
- Give your toddler ice pops or cold medicine when in pain.
2. Create a Positive Habit
The most common reason for toddler biting is to get your attention. If you can prevent them from biting by ignoring them, they’ll stop biting. Establishing a positive habit can help, but it may take some time. If you can get your toddler to bite a toy instead of you, they’ll learn that biting isn’t the way to get attention and will stop doing it.
To create a positive habit, you need to work on the following:
- STAY CALM – When your toddler bites you, it can be a scary and stressful experience. But try not to let it get the best of you. When you’re upset, you might respond in ways that make the situation worse, which is not what you want. Your child will learn from your actions and respond accordingly, so if you react calmly, it will help them learn how to respond similarly.
- PATIENCE – Toddlers learn by copying. So, if you’re patient, your toddler will be too. If you start getting irritated, they’ll likely follow suit and start feeling frustrated. If you show patience and kindness, your toddler will be more likely to respond the same way.
- IGNORE IT – If your toddler bites you, don’t respond with bad words or other negative behavior that encourages them to continue chewing. Instead, ignore it. Pretend they didn’t bite you and act as if nothing happened. If they know that you won’t react negatively, they’ll be more likely to stop biting altogether.
3. Distract Your Toddler
If your toddler bit you, don’t let their bad behavior bother you. Adults are trained to deal with one or two bites, but toddlers bite to get your attention, so you’ll have to show them there’s a better way than biting. If they bite you, don’t respond in anger or get upset by it. Instead, distract your toddler from their bad behavior and play with them.
Distraction is a good way to keep your toddler biting fingers safe and away from trouble. Rather came up with an idea for specific activities to distract toddlers, but you can use anything you have on hand.
These are some of the best ways to distract your toddler:
- GAMES – Toddlers love games, so they’re perfect for engaging and getting their attention. If they’re teething, play ice cream or frozen yogurt games to give them a reason to stop biting. Positive activity can help ward off bad behavior; a game is a great way to reward good behavior.
- TOYS – Toddlers love their toys. They may not know how to control their bodies, but they know how to manage their toys. Give them a toy and play with them for a minute or two. This can keep you safe from the toddler biting fingers and will help them learn that biting is an inappropriate way to get attention.
- PETS – Babies and toddlers love animals and will respond to them whenever possible. Pets such as dogs, cats, birds, and mice; whatever you have around the house, your child will love it. If you can’t be around your pet all the time, you can get a picture of it and show it to your toddler or have them watch a video of animals on their favorite YouTube channel.
4. Reward Positive Behavior
If you notice positive behavior in your toddler, reward them with a fun activity. Toddlers biting fingers can be frustrating and annoying, but they learn as they grow older. Positive reinforcement will help them make more positive future choices and encourage good behavior. Whether it’s a surprise, an ice cream treat, or a happy dance, rewarding positive behavior will enable it to continue.
Toddlers are just trying to figure out how the world and their bodies work. They’re learning what comes naturally and what their environment expects of them.
5. Establish A Daily Routine
In toddlers, biting is a natural part of learning how to use their mouths. They are testing out their teeth and gums, exploring their new world of food and drink, and figuring out how best to communicate with you and others.
To help your toddler learn how to use his teeth in a positive way, establish a daily routine that includes things like:
- Brushing teeth twice a day (in the morning and before bed)
- Flossing once daily (at night)
- Using fluoride-free toothpaste (for babies under two years old) or fluoride-free toothpaste with a pea-sized amount for toddlers over two years old)
- Explaining why you’re doing these things in simple language (“The dentist says we need to brush our teeth so that they stay healthy”)
What Should You AVOID When Handling a Toddler Bite?
When dealing with a toddler’s bad behavior, there are a few things you should never do:
1. Yelling or Shaming
Yelling or shaming is never a good approach when handling a toddler bite.
Shouting at your child will not help you calm him down, and it will likely worsen things. It can also make your child scared of you, which is not the goal here!
Instead, try using positive reinforcement: say something like “you’re so smart” or “good job,” and then hug them.
2. Punishment or Time Outs
You should never resort to punishment when dealing with your toddler’s biting. This will only make you feel worse and make the situation worse. Instead, try giving yourself a time-out. Take a deep breath, walk away, and try to calm down before approaching your child again.
3. Forced Apology
Biting is not an intentional act on your toddler’s part. It is a behavior that develops as they grow and learn. If you want your child to stop biting, you must make them feel safe enough to express their feelings. This means taking a step back and letting them know it’s okay.
4. Bite Back
You probably think you’re a good parent by biting back, but it’s the worst thing you can do. Bad child behavior can only be changed with good adult behavior, so bite your tongue and think about what you’ll do next before you do it.
5. Reward System or Bribery
Don’t try to bribe the child from their bite by giving them a treat or attention. This will only reinforce their biting behavior, and they will continue to use it as a way to get what they want.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with bites from toddlers is not easy, but there are many ways you can help. If you follow these steps, your little one will understand that it’s unacceptable to bite people, and they’ll learn how they can use their natural biting instincts in positive ways.
Got a toddler who bites? No idea what to do about it? Or are you looking for ways to reinforce healthy habits in your child? No worries! Montessori Academy has many programs to help your child learn bite inhibition and healthy behavior.
We provide the most effective, systematic, and fun way to help your child learn positive behavior. With our programs, you’ll be able to give your child the best chance at a healthy and happy future.
Learn more about how we can help your child at our website, or give us a call. We’re here to help!