Biting

Biting occasionally happens in child care settings in which infants and toddlers are enrolled. Biting is a common developmental behavior for very young children. When biting occurs, the biting child should be calmly removed and given "quiet time" alone. Statements such as "You do not bite. It hurts." or "Biting is not allowed. It hurts people." are used. The bitten child is consoled and the bite is quickly cleaned. Ice is placed on the bite to decrease the likelihood of swelling or bruising. The child who has bitten is "shadowed" to help understand what may be causing the child to bite so that further incidents can be prevented.

  • When A Child Bites
  • Children Who Bite: What Can You Do? pdf symbol:
  • Dealing with Biting Behaviors in Young Children
  • Play Right- Don't Bite!
  • OUCH! That hurts!- Biting
  • Biting in the Child Care Setting pdf symbol: (Spanish)