How to Stop a Child from Biting Others...

Updated on August 26, 2006
M. asks from Burnsville, MN
13 answers

I am a child care provider and I have read many books on how to handle kids who bite but nothing is working for me. This particular child is Two and can't comunicate very well.. We use sign language with him but when it comes to conflict that is when he lashes out at the other children... the parents talk to him at home and that seems to help for maybe a day but then it goes down hill... Help me Thank YOu!!!!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.W.

answers from Duluth on

NEVER bite back! Doing this to a child will only confuse him. It's wrong to bite, but you're doing it?

Consistant loving discipline. Immeditly seperate the child from the other children. Sit him down in timeout. Explain to him why he is there, and then leave him alone--away from the other children and adults but always within supervision--for a couple of minutes. It is the best method of correction and the worst possible punishment to them. Children hate being excluded. when the time is up go back and explain to the child agin why he was in time out and then have him apologize to the victim.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I would seperate or confine the child. It's not fair to the other children that this one has problems communicating. I know some daycares have a 3 bites your out policy or something similar. I wouldn't put up with it, there's got to be another two year who you could replace him with. My daughter got bit at daycare (New Horizon) and noone seemed to notice.This is the same daycare I walked in on my lunch break and the toddler room had no supervision in, on multiple occasions. I noticed when I took her shirt off that night. It was so horrible she had bruises and distinct teeth marks. You could tell how many teeth this child had. I was furious I took my daughter to Proex and had professional pictures taken immediately. The next day I gave the center director a copy of the pictures and asked her how and why this happend how didn't any teacher notice, my daughter must have cried.She insisted she never noticed any conflicts or my child crying that day. She said there was no way it happened at her daycare center. My daughter is a only child, and after daycare that day was soley with me noone else. I certainly didn't bite my daughter. The director called child protection on me. I luckily had those photographs and case was closed they could totally tell it was toddler teeth imprints on my daughter and not my big ol adult chompers. Biting is very dangerous especially if blood is drawn. I don't take it lightly. My daughter never bit thank God. She was very good at communicating and did sign language and was a early talker because of the sign language so maybe keep on the sign language or have the other child that get's bit or you could talk for the child if needed and say "So and So that makes me angry,sad,mad or whatever when you bite me" that worked for alot of different things when I worked at a inhome daycare. We would put a guilt trip on the naughty child.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.

answers from Minneapolis on

Before I had my kids, I was a child psychologist. I think kids need to be told that the behavior is wrong AND given an alternative way to express their feelings. So, if he feels like biting a kid, give him a teething toy instead. Many times if a child has trouble talking, they at least can understand what is being said to them. So, at a time that he is being good, introduce the teething toy and tell him that is what he is supposed to bite when he is mad. He'll test you, of course, and when he bites again separate him and give him the teething toy. Pay much more attention to the bitten child than to the biter. Good Luck.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Milwaukee on

None of my kids ever bit. but my neice used to bite everyone whenever she got mad. my mom tried this and said it worked. She put a couple drops of hot sauce on her tongue and after about 2 or 3 times she never bit again. like i said my kids never bit so I haven't tried it but my mom did on my niece.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

I had my child in a daycare that posted if your child bites they will not be allowed in the daycare and that is up to the parents to sort out. This isn't an issue that you should have to worry about, it's the parents responsibility to deal with serious disapline issues. And this is serious.

That said, I would have the parents try the hot sauce thing. That's what my parents did when my brother and I swore and it worked. We watched our language when ever we were in earshot of the parents.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I just wanted to make a suggestion. It is not ok to bite/hit ect a child back, they need to trust you and look to you as a role model. By biting the child they will not trust you and they will be confused. If you are biting it tells the child that this IS acceptable behavior!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

Bite them back!
(just kidding of course)
But I have heard of hot sauce.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from St. Cloud on

I am also a daycare provider so hats off to you!!
Wow, this is a scary! I have never met a biter yet, and hope not to. My son and daughter bite me once when they were toddlers. I think they are looking for a reaction, and they got it. I started to cry (big tears and all) and I told them they hurt me. My son started crying right along with me and never bite me again. My daughter was shocked, alittle shy and never bite me again. They have not developed empathy yet, and this is what they need to be taught.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

Use Vinigar! My son went through a bitting phase and my mom gave me this tip. Don't scold the child or use the vinigar as a punishment. What you do is tell the child that when he bits he gets many germs in his mouth and that you have to clean his tonge off to make sure he doesn't get sick. THe whole time be nice and calm and just say it matter of fact. Take a paper towel, put vinigar on it, have him stick out his tongue and just wipe it off. It doen't hurt the child at all, it just taste terriable. My son was bitting all the time, we only have to "clean" his tounge twice and he never bite again.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.R.

answers from Sheboygan on

i live next to a 5 year old that hit bites whatever he can do when he gets mad... wither or not if he wants somefin and its not his he still gets mad... i know you a child care so you cant do this but one day with in five mins this little boy bite both my kids.. the frist one was my son as my kid wouldnt let this other boy in his car he bite him in the back... i carried the boy to his home walked him in and told his sis what he did... then a few seconds later this boy was outside.. i walked in my home to get a drink. next thing i know my 9 year old daughter is crying . i walk outside to find out this boy had walked right up to her and bite her wrist. for no reason at all... so i got pretty upset and walked up to this boy and bite him in the wrist. not hard dont get me wrong.. but i wanted him to feel the hurt he gave my child... i then walked him in the house told them what happened... and i also told the parent if he ever bite my children again that i would do the same thing again... i feel even if its a little bite they learn that it does hurt.. and that they shouldnt do this... have you tryed time out... i know when my son bite he would sit in time out for 5 mins.. i also think the parents of this child should do more maybe... hope this helps... good luck

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.V.

answers from Minneapolis on

At 20 months old my son was biting alot. I bought a book (for him) called Teeth Are Not For Biting. There's actually a whole series - Feet are not for kicking...etc.

The book walks them through the scenario of biting another kid and why they do it and how it hurts others. When he was done reading the book he seemed to understand that it hurt others. He's now 22 months and rarely bites. We still read the book every now and then.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.S.

answers from Eau Claire on

As a mother of ten children myself (25 down to 4) and now a new grandmother plus friends with lots of mothers who have lots of kids....well, has the child's parents ever tried actually biting the child back gently the first time and the next time bite harder if they don't quit and let them experience what they are actually doing to others? I think that type of "language" would be understandable....harmless in the long run, and really showing the child love since we all need to know what our actions are really doing to others.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.J.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have heard one provider put the childs hand in their own mouth and clamped down, biting is very common for a two year old. I guess she figured that if they bit themselves they would then know it actually hurts someone when you bite...ask the parents first. She didn't do it enough to actually hurt the child...just enough to let them know.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions