Biting

An infant or toddler biting other children or adults is a relatively normal part of growing up. While not acceptable, it can be a way for your child to seek attention, express frustration, or soothe aching gums. It’s important to teach your child early on that biting is not allowed. If your child bites uncontrollable, and/or bites past the age of three, you should seek help from doctor. The specialists at Children’s Hospital Boston can help you determine the cause of the biting and create a plan to bring the biting to an end.

Things to remember about biting:

• Biting is very common among children under the age of 3.
• Biting is the most common reason for a child to be expelled from daycare.
• Frequent biting can be a sign of other emotional problems.
• If a child over 3 bites, you should talk with your doctor.
• To stop biting, explain to your child that it hurts and is not ok.
• You should never bite your child if they bite you.