Reacting to Biting Behavior

Page 14

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. 

Some steps to take when reacting to biting behavior:​

Separate the biter from the child who was bit and if possible get help from another caregiver to console the child that was bit.

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.
In addition, be aware that biting a child that is in your care is abuse and will be investigated by licensing and CPS. This is never an appropriate form of discipline. 

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.

Optional Resources for Further Study

• What do to when toddlers bite, Hand in Hand
• Responding to Your Child’s Bite, The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, Vanderbilt University 
• A dose of special time in the morning, Hand in Hand
• Toddlers and Biting: Finding the Right Response, Feb 22, 2016, Zero to Three
• Biting questions: When a toddler bites, how do you handle the biter, the victim — and both sets of parents?, By Bridget Murray Law, February 2011, Vol 42, No. 2, American Psychological Association

Course Navigation Menu

​1. Course Agenda
2. Ouch!​
3. Why Do Children Bite?
4. Biting Causes (1/7)
5. Preventing Biting Behavior
6. ABC Chart
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7. Behavior Patterns​ (2/7)
8. How to Make your Own ABC Chart
9. Scenario 1 (3/7)
10. Scenario 1 (4/7)
11. Scenario 2 (5/7)
12. Scenario 2 (6/7)
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​13. Using ABC Chart to Prevent Biting 
14. Reacting to Biting Behavior
15. Biting Epidemics
16. Children’s Books About Biting
17. End of Course Quiz
18. Course Evaluation Form​
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