Biting

Biting is a common behaviour in children between one and three years of age. It can be an upsetting behaviour especially when it reoccurs or when it injures others.

Why do children bite?

  • To comfort sore gums when teething.
  • To communicate their feelings of love, excitement, frustration and anger when they have no other ways of expressing their feelings.
  • They lack the skills to control their behaviour when interacting with people.
  • They do not understand that biting causes pain to others.

For more information, call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 / TTY: 613-580-9656

What can you do about biting?

Before it occurs:

  • Keep groups of children small (eight to 12 per group) since crowding may stimulate a child to bite. If possible, assign two to three child care providers per group.
  • Set up the room so the child care provider can easily see all the children since biters strike with lightning speed.
  • Secure a teething ring on the clothing of a child who is teething so the child can bite on it. Discuss this with parent/guardian first.
  • Observe the child with a history of biting for a pattern and use this information to help prevent future incidence:
    • When does the child usually bite?
    • What seems to trigger the behaviour?
    • Who is the victim?
  • What happens when the child bites?
  • Provide materials to help the child express his/her emotion and/or decrease his/her frustration level (e.g. play dough, clay, sand and water play and the use of puppets).
  • Praise the child for appropriate social behaviour. For example, when he/she handles anger and frustration in an acceptable way, say, "I liked the way you used your words to tell Sam how you felt".
  • Allow children to assist in rule making to develop their sense of responsibility.

After it occurs:

  • Set clear limits, e.g. "Ouch! Biting hurts. No biting here.”
  • Give attention to the child who has been bitten first. Keep a careful eye on the child who has bitten to be sure he/she does not repeat the behaviour.
  • Have the biter face the bitten child who is crying and assist with putting ice on the bite. This may help him/her understand that biting causes pain.
  • If the biter is uncooperative, separate the child. When he/she regains control, channel his/her attention to other activities. Do not lecture or discuss the biting incident.
  • If biting is a continual problem try using a "time out period, which should be short and supervised, one minute for each year of age.
  • Be consistent. Involve family participation.

References:

American Public Health Association and American Academy of Paediatrics. Caring for Our Children-National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs. Ann Arbour, MI.: Edwards Brothers, 1992.

Essa, Eva L. A Practical Guide to Solving Preschool Behaviour Problems. 2nd ed. USA: Delmar Publishers Inc., 1990.

Gonzalez-Mena, Janet & Eyer, Dianne Widmeyer. Infants, Toddlers, and Caregivers. Mountain View, California: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1989.

Reynolds, Eleanor. Guiding Young Children. Mountain View, California: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1990.

Solomons, H.C. & Elardo, R. (1991). Biting in Day Care Centres: Incidence, Prevention, and Intervention. Journal of Paediatric Health Care, 5, 191-196.

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