Biting

Home Treatment

How to help prevent biting

Positive reinforcement helps to prevent your child from biting. Praise your child when he or she shows behaviors you want to encourage, such as sharing, being kind, showing empathy, or being patient.

Growth and development: Helping your child build self-esteem

When you see your child behaving well, reward him or her for that behavior. A reward does not need to be candy, toys, or other treats. A reward can be as simple as telling the child how well he or she is doing and that you appreciate cooperation or a good-natured response to a problem or frustration. For example, say "Great job! You used your words when you were angry." An enthusiastic pat on the back or a hug when the child is behaving well helps the child associate nonaggressive behavior with good things. The child will gradually realize that it feels better to get positive attention for being good than it does to get negative attention for biting or other aggressive behavior.

In addition, parents should model the behavior they would like to see in their child. Avoid angry outbursts and other forms of aggression. Set a good example by showing your child how to deal calmly with everyday frustrations.

How to help a child who has been bitten

When one child bites another, first take care of the child who was bitten and give emotional support:

• Move the child away from the situation.
• Comfort the child within sight of the child who bit him or her.
• Help the child express his or her feelings about being bitten, such as by saying, "It's okay to cry. Being bitten hurts."
• Do not say, "Johnny was bad to bite you."

Examine the area where the child was bitten. Most bites from children are not harmful and leave little, if any, evidence. A tooth mark on the skin or slight bruising may appear, which usually does not require medical attention. Tender loving care and an ice pack on the bite are most often all that is needed.

In rare cases, a bite from a child will pierce the skin and bleed. Usually the injury is still minor and can be treated at home. But these types of bites should be closely watched because they are more prone to infection.

Contact a doctor if a bite pierces the skin and:

• Appears severe.
• Signs of infection develop.
• The person who was bitten has immune system problems, which increases the risk for complications from infection.

For more information on treating bites, see the topic Animal and Human Bites.

How to respond to a child who bites

When your child bites, let him or her know that biting is not acceptable. React to the biting incident in a dramatic way (but without violence or aggression). If you were the one bitten, overreact to the pain. If your child bit someone else, react with a firm voice and stern facial expression. Say, "No! We do not bite." Many children are as shocked and upset as the person who has been bitten because they may not be aware that biting hurts.

Suggest other ways for your child to express feelings. For example, say, "Use your words to tell Susan you are angry at her for taking your truck."

When a child bites, do not:

• Bite the child back to show how it feels to be bitten.
• Wash out the child's mouth with soap.
• Pinch, slap, or use other physical punishment.

Children over the age of 3 who continue to bite may benefit from time-out. Time-out removes the child from the situation, allows him or her time to calm down, and teaches the child that biting is not acceptable behavior. Time-out works best for children who understand why it is being used.

Biting that occurs in a child care center

When one child bites another in a child care center, the director may ask to meet with the parents of both children. If biting keeps happening, measures that can be tried include:

• Shortening your child's day at the center.
• Watching your child closely to identify when he or she is most likely to bite. Some activities may frustrate your child. Replacing frustrating activities with less challenging activities may be all that is needed to stop a child from biting.
• Staying on a consistent routine.

If these measures do not stop your child's biting, you may want to or you may be asked to move your child to another child care setting. A smaller center or one with staff who are skilled in handling children who bite may be a better situation for a child with an ongoing biting problem.

Contact a doctor if:

• You have not been able to stop your child's biting using the above techniques.
• You have difficulty handling your reaction to your child's biting.
• Your child's biting is disrupting his or her life.
• You need suggestions for treating biting.

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Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: April 17, 2008
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
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