A very common behavior in toddlers is sinking their teeth into places they are not supposed to. The worst place? Our skin. It can be very frustrating when our little ones bite us. We are humans, and we can admit that it hurts! One of the ways to reduce biting in places we don’t want them to bite, is to understand the core reason why they are biting. There can be a variety of reasons: teething, frustration, anger, or wanting to express themselves. Although the biting phase is temporary and is something every child goes through, it is important we also introduce boundaries and redirect this behavior appropriately so our children can learn when biting is appropriate. Here are some common reasons why our precious piranhas bite, and how to resolve it:
Teething.
Children stop teething typically 2-3 years old. So if you’ve noticed your child biting more than usual, they are most likely trying to find relief. Introduce chilled chew toys to relieve their teething, or any regular teething toy and this can possibly reduce their biting attacks. If your child is biting you or others without anger or frustration, and it is unexpected and unprovoked, then ruling teething can definitely be a possibility. Eve and elle sells many teething toys, but here is one of our favorites:
The Baby Teething Rattle is safe and durable and made from 100% durable natural wood. It also offers an interactive experience, which will be very helpful in redirecting your biting attacks.
Oral Exploration
Toddlers won’t always know how to safely explore with only their hands. And some children are very sensory driven, so they will enjoy the sensation of an object in their mouth. They might enjoy the taste and texture of a specific object, so they will find joy and relief in putting objects in their mouth. And naturally, they will want to bite. The texture of human skin is no exception. So if your toddler is wanting to orally explore your skin or others, then they will buy a first class ticket to want to experience their biting on your skin like a dog on a bone. Keep a toy handy, and always be prepared to redirect their biting to a toy instead. We need to teach our little ones that it is not appropriate to bite us or others, and to explore safely with other objects. Another alternative is to have your child wear a necklace that can chew if this happens more frequently.
Attention Seeking
Toddlers at this age are very engaged with cause and effect. Once they engage in an activity that causes an effect, they will seek to repeat it. If you are reacting to their biting, then they will want to constantly want to bite to seek that reaction. And we understand, it is not always possible to not react when our children bite us, unless we are made out of steel. When this happens, we need to implement strict boundaries, that biting is not okay. Using statements like “biting hurts” can also evoke empathy. If your child has bitten another child, and they are crying, make it clear that their actions made another child upset. Once your child sees their actions have a negative reaction, they might eventually understand that biting others does not result in a positive outcome. Another statement we can say is “we use gentle touches.” Children don’t always know what to do alternatively when they do something wrong. So redirecting them and teaching them they should be gentle, will offer a resolution and alternative.
Expressing emotions
Toddlers are still learning how to express their emotions effectively. Which is why temper tantrums are normal in early child development. Children do not know how to express their emotions, so if they are frustrated, they might bite out of anger. Toddlers do not know how to communicate, and this is what can overwhelm them. Often, we won't understand their needs, as they are unable to verbalize them. Toddlers won’t know how to effectively navigate through conflict resolution such as sharing, so they might bite out of anger if a toy is snatched out of their hand. Reading books, and teaching them healthier and more appropriate ways of expressing our emotions can teach and hopefully reduce the options of biting. Verbal reminders of saying “we don’t bite” or reminding them “biting hurts” can intervene these behaviors when they occur.
We hope some of these pointers will help with your little ones. If you feel you are already doing all of these things and still do not see any changes, do not give up. We understand it can be defeating, and you feel like you’ve done everything, but remember remaining consistent is what is most important, and your child will eventually learn. Your child will not apply what we are teaching them overnight. It will take time. And it is a temporary phase. You’re a great parent, and you’re doing the best you can. Always remember that!