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There’s no doubt about it that biting behavior can be alarming. Even seasoned professionals can be frightened and confused by witnessing biting behavior even though an estimated 1 in 10 toddlers will bite. Instead of overreacting or freezing from uncertainty, it is important to act quickly and calmly when biting occurs.
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Some steps to take when reacting to biting behavior:
- Separate the biter from the victim and if possible get help from another caregiver to console the victim.
- Help the child in understanding their emotions and impulses in order to avoid biting in the future.
- Talk to the child and tell them “it’s ok to be mad, but we do not bite. Biting hurts other people. Instead, let’s talk about our feelings.” Obviously, younger children will not yet have the words to express themselves, but helping them develop these words as tools can eventually help in preventing biting behavior.
- Provide a cool down period. Especially after a child bites out of anger or frustration, provide a quiet area of the room where the child may cool down before returning to the area.
- Do not bite back! Biting a child back is NOT the answer as it only perpetuates the biting behavior.
- Redirect the behavior either by removing the child from the situation or distracting them with a different set of toys or a book. It works equally well to give a toddler a simple task to break the focus of the biting behavior.