Biting feels good to a child. It is a primal instinct that rears its ugly head early on. The very young child does not understand he is inflicting pain on a human being. He simply enjoys the physical sensation. This is the first stage of biting. It should be responded to with a calm manner; it is a natural event for babies. The trouble arises in later biting stages when parents must take action to correct a behavior that has become aberrant.
Ages
Biting begins in children before they even have teeth. Little babies use strong muscles to clamp their gums down around objects such as your fingers. True bites take place once the child begins "cutting" teeth. Biting down on something helps relieve the discomfort caused by emerging teeth. Encourage your teething infant to bite on a frozen teething ring to help soothe his sore mouth. Children often continue to bite during the primary years with most stages representing a normal part of their development. It is when older children bite that the issue must be addressed.
Reasons
According to the Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting, the biting stage during infancy is primarily due to exploration. The very young child uses his mouth as much as his hands in discovering new objects, both inanimate and animate. Other reasons for biting before the age of three are to communicate and to express over-stimulation and excitement. After three years old, though, biting is most often related to behavioral issues. These older children might be biting as a form of aggression against other children or adults, to gain attention and to exert control.
Parental Responses
Provide a biting infant with an inanimate object to chew on to distract him from sinking his new, little teeth into you. A soft cloth or soft rubber play toy are useful in teething cases. When older children bite, it is important to determine the cause. It might be that the child is stressed. Address worrisome issues directly with your child in order to help curb his tendency to bite. For repeated incidents of biting others, you need to follow through with consequences such as time-outs and taking away favored toys for a period of time.
Professional Help
You need professional help when a child bites frequently, causes injury with bites or does not stop this behavior following discipline. Biting might be one of several signs that the child needs specialized attention. Consult local child care resource agencies for recommendations regarding therapy for your child. Don't hesitate to get her help when you believe it is warranted. Keep a log of the biting incidents that occur and other instances of aggressive or unusual behavior to share with the mental health professional you choose.
Member Comments