The Cure For Toddler Biting

Ask 7 different people about toddler biting, and you'll probably get 7 different answers, including the dreaded "Bite them back!" response.

I just wanted to let you know that's not what you need today.

There are a lot of articles on the internet that you could turn to, but how do you know who to trust? Early childhood specialists can make you feel guilty.

Parents might just read a book and post their findings, along with 157 ads you don't want to see, especially the annoying videos and flashing pop-ups that make your internet experience a virtual nightmare.

We'll skip the ads for now and provide you with some genuine content. You can trust this content. It's brought to you by early childhood teachers, professionals, parents, administrators, and grandparents—people with experience and education in the field.

Together, we are Early Childhood Rocks!, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting high-quality care and education for all children. You can check out our website here.

Here's a quick overview on what to do about biting:

one

The most important thing you can do immediately is to watch them closely until the situation changes. Try to prevent biting by keeping as close to the potential biter as possible. Bring them with you if you need to walk away for a brief moment. Tell them they need to be your "buddy" for a while.

In the meantime, focus on developing problem-solving skills, language proficiency, and impulse control.

two

Take notes about when and where the biting happens. If it's at child care, ask the teacher to do that for you. Please let them know you appreciate the extra effort. In the note, include when and where, who was present, the noise level, and whether the area was crowded at the time of the incident.

Then, you can review your notes. Could it be hunger or fatigue? Not enough space? A difficult time of day?

Could you make adjustments and then take more notes?

three

Think about the oral side of the issue. Could you provide the child with a teething ring, a wet washcloth, or a specially designed device for children with oral habits? Could you reduce their frustration by feeding them a few minutes earlier? Providing them with more opportunities for sleep?

To put it as simply as possible, the cure for toddler biting is developing communication skills. In particular, non-violent communication skills.

There's more....

If you want to learn more about biting and the exact steps to take when it happens, as well as all the latest information on how to prevent it from happening in the first place, you're in luck.

I'm thrilled to unveil our easy-to-read and follow online presentation of The Cure for Biting. When you make a small donation to our nonprofit organization, you get it as a digital gift from us.

You'll get:

• The best, most professional information on why biting happens and the most effective way to deal with it in a developmentally appropriate way.

• The exact steps to take when biting becomes an issue.

• Many solid tips, techniques, and suggestions that you can use immediately.

• A short, easy-to-follow presentation that you can view at your own pace.

The Truth About Biting

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Nanci J Bradley is an early childhood and family educator, author, teacher, family aerobics instructor, and an all-around fun-loving person. She believes in the power of sleep, healthy eating, lifelong learning, and most of all, PLAY!  She studied early childhood ed at Triton College and received her BS in education in 1986 from NIU. She received her MA in human development from Pacific Oaks College in 2011. She lives and teaches in Madison WI and is the founder of early childhood rocks, a non-profit org dedicated to creating change through early childhood education.