Reasons for Biting Behavior in Young Children
Toddlers bite for a variety of different reasons. Sometimes toddlers are overcome with emotion, anger and temper tantrums , leading to physical aggression using their teeth. There can be a sense of release by chomping down on an object, or an unwitting victim who happens to draw the ire of a nearby little one. Reading books about biting can help kids learn more effective ways to handle their feelings without resorting to hurting another person. As frustrating as it can be for parents, understanding why this behavior occurs is important. Once you have a handle on why it is happening, you can take measures to stop this behavior immediately. Here are several explanations that will shed some light on this undesirable habit.
(1) Language skills are still developing in little toddlers, so they often do not have the words to express how they are feeling or what they want.
Even if they possess limited vocabulary, it can take too long to find the right words. Biting is the fastest and easiest way to get the attention of the closest person.
(2) Toddlers use their mouths to explore and learn about objects around them.
Oftentimes they put everything and anything within reach into their mouths. Sometimes this turns out to be the arm of someone within reach. And when that person reacts by saying "Ouch!", they unintentionally reinforce the biting behavior.
(3) Teething is a very common reason why toddlers bite people.
Their gums are swollen and uncomfortable. The only thing that seems to bring relief is biting. When there is not a teething ring or toy around, a toddler will opt for the next best thing. And unfortunately, that may be someone else's finger.
(4) Mimicking the behavior of other biters is extremely common.
It starts with one toddler biting another. The innocent victim reacts by shouting out or crying. And then the next thing you know, this same little victim sinks his or her teeth into some other unsuspecting tot. This aggressive behavior can spread like wildfire, and pretty soon an entire daycare class has caught the biting bug.
(5) If biting persists beyond the teething toddler period, parents will want to consult with a professional to determine if there is a more serious disorder driving the behavior.
Expressive speech delay, sensory processing disorder, and autism spectrum disorder will all be considered. Kids who are biting aggressively despite all attempts of mitigation may be dealing with an undiagnosed disorder that requires attention. The biting itself is just a symptom of a more serious problem.
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