Simple Tips To Stop A Toddler From Biting
Biting is a habit that is common in toddlers. If your little one is showing a constant urge to bite, you are not the only worried parent out there.
All infants go through the biting phase. Your child is probably biting on toys, pacifier or even your shoulders! While some babies understand that biting hurts and may stop, most babies will continue to do so, even at the risk of getting hurt.
Why Do Toddlers Bite?
Many toddlers bite their nails. This could be due to boredom, habit, stress-relief or curiosity. If your kid bites, but doesn’t injure himself there is nothing to worry about and with time it will go away.
Sometimes, toddlers start biting others. If your toddler is showing similar signs, understanding the reasons will let you help them get off the habit.
What To Do In Case Of Biting?
As a parent, it is natural to feel guilty or angry if your toddler bites. Instead, try and focus on the reasons and help your child come out of it.
Reacting To The First Bite
When your toddler bites for the first time you need a caring and quick response. You can rush her away from the scene firmly but kindly. This conveys a strong message that what she just did is incorrect. With appropriate response your toddler might not repeat the behavior.
You should:
- Respond immediately.
- Divert your toddler to another activity.
- Offer her a toy or snack to dissipate a need to bite.
Identifying situations leading to biting is the first step. Pay attention to such situations. With time you will be able to anticipate these episodes. An effective technique is engaging your toddler in the closest possible parallel activity.
The following steps will help you prevent your toddler from biting:
Discover Cause And Effect
Toddlers are possessive about their belongings and don’t like to share.
- Forcing your kid to share can lead to biting.
- Spend time with your kid, decipher her non-verbal communication and give positive attention so that she conveys her feelings correctly.
Teach Self-Assertion
Help your child to express anger or frustration.
- Allow her space.
- If your kid looks upset in an overcrowded room remove her from the place.
- Maintain a consistent routine that lessens surprises.
- Offer options and choices and let her decide what she wants to do.
- This gives her a feeling of self-control and reduces annoyance.
Develop Verbal Communication Skills
Building verbal communication skills requires patience and diligence.
- Gentle, firm and clear communication helps in instructing toddlers.
- Instead of screaming, convey your reaction softly.
- Your toddler is unable to understand how painful biting is for the victim. Compassionately try to tell her that biting hurts.
Teething Tales
If your toddler is teething provide her something to chew.
- Carrot sticks, cucumber slices or biscuits reduce the teething itch.
- Pacifiers – are all-time problem solvers!
Help Him/Her Relax
Playtime, television time and other activities need to be balanced with a period of rest.
- Create a comfort zone in a peaceful corner of your house where she can relax.
- Get a basket and fill it with objects your toddler likes. You can add musical toys, story books or squishy balls to play. Keep this in the cozy corner.
- Encourage your child to spend time in this place.
- Initially you can help her to unwind and relax.
Some Important Tips
How to stop a toddler from biting? It is difficult to keep calm when your child bites, but remember:
- Never address your toddler as a ‘biter’.
- Don’t let others label your kid.
- Be compassionate.
Photo Credit: Pinterest