Caution: Biting Child

I was biter when I was a kid. So was my mother. My sister and father were not. Why do some children bite and some don’t? I’ve asked myself this question over and over again as I remember injuring my friends and playmates and getting into deep trouble for such actions. I look back now and believe that I bit out of frustration, anger and not knowing how to express myself when I didn’t like something.

Biting is a common behavior among children between the ages of 14 and 24 months. Small children may develop the nasty habit of biting for many reasons some include the following:

• To get attention

• Intimidate younger children

• Feeling powerless and scared

• Teething

• Exploration

• Frustration and stress

• Discovering their independence, trying to do things without help from others

The good news is most toddlers tend to only bite or a short while and will eventually grow out of it. After the age of 3 years old however–as in my case- that child may need help from a mental health care professional.

If you are near a biting child, here are some suggestions you can practice according to www.betterkidcare.psu.edu/:

1. Comfort the bitten child.

2. Say to the biting child “biting hurrrttts”

3. Involve the biting child in helping to comfort and retrieve ice for the bitten child.

4. Teach the biting child new skills like saying “no or “stop

5. Get both children involved in calming activities like looking at a book, or playing with play dough, sand or water

To prevent biting, pay close attention to the child and offer the following:

• Appropriate activities such as arts and crafts and sensory activites like sand, water and play dough. Let your toddler explore and enjoy to reduce frustration and anger.

• Create a good daily schedule with fewer transitions from one activity to the other as well as lowering lights, use songs and give a five minute warning to help make transitions calmer. Also increase the amount of time toddlers spend outside so they can blow off steam and expend energy.

• Provide duplicate toys

• use positive ways for children to seek attention

• Make space for biters

• Play detective. Gather information such as :

1. What time of day, was the child hungry, angry, thirsty, or feeling frustrated?

2. Was he child fighting over a duplicate toy?

3. Was the child facing important changes like toilet training, moving to big bed, new baby in the family?

4. Was the child trying to kiss someone? Teething?

5. Seeking attention?


Dealing and coping with a biting child can be a trying and frustrating time for everyone involved. Be calm, patient and compassionate and with a little time the child will slowly grow out of this behavior.

If all else fails, do what my parents did with me-I accompanied my neighbor to the ER after I bit him, the doctor spoke with me for a minutes-although I do not remember the conversation today-but shortly after that visit to the ER, I stopped biting forever.



.....Robyn Wheeler is the author of Born Mad, an in-depth view of her struggle with chronic anger, frustration and thoughts of suicide and her eventual diagnosis of Dysthymia.