Tackling Your Toddler’s Biting Habit
Between their first and third birthdays, most toddlers engage in some form of biting. The most common reason for this concern is that this is one of the few ways that toddlers can effectively communicate with others. But not all children have the biting habit. Some of them shove, hit, pinch or grab. That’s probably just as bad!
Also, toddlers sometimes start biting because their motor skills and ability to communicate are so restricted, that they have to express themselves somehow.
A toddler likely finds it amusing when mommy jumps straight up, or a little friend starts crying. Another reason for biting is that the toddler is teething or because they just think everything should go in their mouth so why not someone’s arm? The cause might even be as basic as being hungry.
What means can you use to help your child learn not to bite? You must make it perfectly clear that biting is wrong and hurtful. Help them to understand that other kids feel pain when your little one bites them. Be sure to let your toddler know that biting is not allowed, that it’s wrong, and that it makes you unhappy.
If you think that your little one is biting out of frustration, help your toddler find another way to communicate that they’re having a hard time. Although it seems a gargantuan effort for your toddler to communicate with words, this is a great time to start teaching them the right words for a situation.
For instance, “You have to let daddy know that you need something, but not by biting.” Or “Show mommy what you need, but don’t bite. You’ll hurt her if you bite, and I know you would never want to hurt mommy.” This may bring a cloak of shame of what they are about to do and they may think their actions over again before actually biting.
Parents should not let biting become the center of attention. This is the case for any behavior that you don’t want to become a habit. Gently but firmly tell the toddler that there is no biting allowed, that it is wrong and that it hurts all sorts of people – both big and small.
Visit Toddlers Now for more great tips on raising a little one.
Tags: Birthdays, Center Of Attention, Children Biting, Cloak, Frustration, Great Time, Habit, Hard Time, Little Friend, Mommy, Motor Skills, Parents, Reason, Shame, toddler behavior, toddler biting, Toddlers