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You’ve just discovered that
you have a pint-sized biter on
your hands.
Isn’t it amazing how those tiny
teeth that once caused so much
excitement and celebration can
now cause so much fear and
frustration?
Biting, however, is quite
common among young children.
It happens for different reasons
with different children and
under different circumstances.
Understanding the reason for
your child’s biting is the first
step to changing his or her
behavior.
n Why children bite
Exploration
Infants and toddlers learn by
touching, smelling, hearing, and
tasting. If an infant is given a toy,
one of the first places the infant
puts it is in the mouth. Tasting or
“mouthing” things is something
that all children do. Children this
Biting
Cause and effect
About age 12 months infants
become interested in finding out
what happens when they do
something. When they bang a
spoon on the table, they discover
that it makes a loud
sound. When they drop a toy
from their crib, they discover
PM 1529a Reprinted October 1996
age do not always understand
the difference between gnawing
on a toy and biting someone.
Teething
Children generally begin
teething about age 4 to 7
months. Swelling gums can be
tender and can cause a great
deal of discomfort. Infants
sometimes find relief from this
discomfort by chewing on
something. Sometimes the
object they chomp on is a real
person! Children this age may
not understand the difference
between chewing on a person or
a toy.
is a quick way to become the
center of attention, even if it is
negative attention.
Imitation
Older toddlers love to imitate
...