Do you have a child in your daycare who bites? If not, be warned that you probably will at some point. Although uncomfortable for everyone involved, biting in young children is a normal behavior and is usually a phase that they outgrow. Dealing with the situation however can be very challenging. Parents of the child who was bitten are often upset and want retribution. Parents of the child doing the biting are often at a loss on what to do and sometimes even blame the behavior on something else or another child.

To properly handle the situation, we first need to understand why children bite. Young children bite for many different reasons. Understanding why a toddler might be biting is the first step in reducing or stopping the behavior.

The following are a few reasons young children bite:

• Communicating frustration
• Challenges in playing with others (sharing toys, personal space)
• Cause and effect- (reaction of other children & adults)
• Oral stimulation (teething, physical sensation)
• Monkey see, monkey do (copying what they see)
• Coping with uncomfortable feelings (hungry, sleepy, bored)

So, What can you do?

Children can be taught more appropriate ways to express their needs and feelings. Observe the child and identify any patterns, such as what happens before the child bites. Notice when, where, and who the child bites. Does he/she bite when crowded in a small space with other children, or when he/she is hungry or sleepy? Does he/she bite when there are a number of children present or when the noise level is high?

Once you understand why and when your child is likely to bite, you can try to change situations in order to prevent it. Prevention is the number one way to get through the biting phase.

Although, you can intently try to prevent a child from biting, it sometimes still happens. So what should you do if a child gets bitten?

If a child bites, calmly but in a firm voice, let them know that biting hurts. Show and explain the effect of the bite on the other child. For example, you might say, “Amy is crying and sad because the bite hurts her.” Acknowledge the child's frustrations and teach them to use their words if they are old enough to communicate. Also remember to give most of you focus to the child who was bitten.

During the biting phase, You may want to keep the child within arm’s reach during playtime. Most importantly, be patient and calm. Remember, this is a completely normal behavior and will pass in time.

Once a biting incident has occurred, make sure to fill out a biting report to give to the parents of the child who was bitten. You also may want to keep a copy for your records. Explain to them that biting is normal but also empathize with their frustrations and make sure they know that you are doing everything possible to prevent it from happening again. I always tell my parents that I can’t promise it won’t happen, but I will do my best to prevent it. (Click here to get my free biting report)

You will also want to talk with the child’s parents who did the biting. Let them know that it is normal behavior, but that your goal is to get their child through this phase asap. Ask the parents to help correct the behavior if their child tries to bite them while at home. You do not want a parent to laugh or think it’s “cute” when their child bites them while playing.

In extreme biting cases, you may need to considered dismissal. This should be the last resort, but should be considered if a child, for example, is over the age of 2, biting several times per day, and drawing blood. Sometimes, you just can’t simply “ride it out” especially if you are going to lose other parents. In these situations, follow your heart to make the best decision.

After all is said and done, just remember that biting will usually pass, parents are usually understanding, and you are doing the best you can!