Toddlers bite with little warning out of frustration, anger or simply to see the reaction it causes. While an 18-month-old child may see biting as a form of expression or learning about the world, the habit puts parents in embarrassing positions. Young children fail to comprehend the traditional forms of punishment, but the biting needs to stop quickly to avoid inflicting pain on other children and potentially getting kicked out of day care. Consistency in stopping the biting is key for young children.
Step 1
Document all biting incidents with your toddler. Write down where the child was, what was going on, who was bitten, time of day, who else was around and what led up to the incident. Look for patterns. For instance, some toddlers bite at daycare while others bite then they are tired.
Step 2
Watch for signs of frustration or other triggers that often cause your child to bite. Help your child deal with the situation by encouraging her to express those feelings or satisfying the needs that aren't being met. For example, if your toddler bites when she becomes tired or hungry, give her a chance to rest or have a snack before she bites.
Step 3
Practice using words to express feelings even when your child is content and not likely to bite. This helps him express himself when he does feel frustrated. Help him find words to express physical needs like food, rest and comfort.
Step 4
Alert any other caregivers about your toddler's tendency to bite. Let them know how to handle the situation and what to look for to indicate biting may occur. Work with the caregivers so that your child's biting is handled consistently.
Step 5
Step in immediately if your toddler bites another child. Move the children apart to prevent a second bite. Tend to the child who received the bite to ensure her injuries aren't severe.
Step 6
Turn to your 18 month old and tell him that biting is not nice. Point out that the other child is hurt and crying because of the bite.
Step 7
Redirect your child to another quiet activity to keep the situation calm. Avoid yelling or getting overly worked up about the event, which may cause both children to become tense or upset. The stress and tension could result in more biting.
