My 2 year old son has begun biting "regularly" - and many times, it is for no reason known to us.?

Question

I've been asked "what could he be angry at?" I don't see him as being angry at all. He plays well with others, he's happy, he sings, he plays well by himself. He can show a temper and he does, but this is not all the time. When he begins to show his temper because he doesn't want to stop to do something we need to do, I will tell him that as soon as we finsh whatever it is we need to do, then he can go back to what it was he was doing. Most times, he will be fine with this and then there are those times he's not so fine with it, but just the same, if there is something we need to do, we will do it and then he get's to go back to what he was doing. He's polite and says thank you many times. When I mention to him that he needs to be a good boy at school, he will many times say to me "Nooooo biting." I feel like he understands the biting not acceptable, and the daycare will call me on his first bite and if he bites a second time - I am asked to pick him up.... I don't understand.

Answer 1

Mine is going to the same thing .We were told that it's just out of play or frustration of not being able to convey all his needs or wants yet. I think they do grow out of it eventually as long as you continue to tell him he can't do it. Timeouts have been working with our son. It may or may not work for yours.Goodluck.
momof4

Answer 2

Most two year old bites for two reasons, one they are getting in their back molars and two they like the reaction they receive when they bite the person. that ouch that someone just screamed is funny or neat. Also, he may have picked up on the fact that every time he bites twice he gets to go home, I know my son when he is being aggressive at school if he gets to go home he will be even worse the next day so that he can go home then too. My suggestion is this. You tell the daycare that he is only two and he should be placed in time out when he bites. He should also be givin something he can chew on incase he is getting those back molars. If they have to keep calling you then you need a new day care. They should not call you because your two year old bites, many twos bite. Also if he is biting teachers they need to give him less of a reaction, if it is other children I am not sure what the solution is. He will eventually grow out of it, most two year olds do.

Answer 3

Toddlers do this because they don't have the verbal skills to tell others what they are thinking. Preschool is a totally different environment than home... children in HIS space, playing with HIS toys, sitting with HIS teacher, etc. Toddlers are particularly egocentric, and think the world revolves around them and their perspective on things. It can be hard when another egocentric "ME, ME" kid wants to have a toy too. Toddlers use biting because it gets results. The kid lets go of the toy he wanted, and he gets it. There's usually a nice scream to go with it! The teachers should be setting up an evaluation to see what is causing the biting. They should do some time sampling and observe what happens directly before, during and after a biting incident involving your son. Is he trying to get something from someone, is he seeking adult attention, is he trying to avoid something/someone/doing an activity/going somewhere he doesn't want to go? Is he simply exploring the use of his teeth? Once they figure out the cause, the solution can be more easily determined. Do they need to intervene between him and others to facilitate more cooperative play? Does he have adequate play skills with other children? Can the teacher spend extra time with him doing something he likes so that he feels he has undivided attention at times? Are they giving warning before they go somewhere, stop what they are playing with or insisting that kids "share"? Is there another way that they can ask him to participate without stressing him to the point of biting? Does he get lots of attention from the biting incidents from teachers and you? Does he need something to bite on to relieve stress or meet another sensory need? You may want to start sending chewy and crunchy things in his lunch to help his body regulate some of the deep pressure needs that are satisfied by biting. Beef jerky, licorace, wheat thin crackers, granola bars, fruit snacks and anything that requires lots of chewing action. You can also purchase the teething rings that vibrate (in the baby section) for him to carry at school. Often these are very calming for children who bite chronically, and the biting subsides if they have something appropriate and safe to bite on. Biting is often a result of a sensory need, and an expression of language frustration. The teacher needs to observe for causes, then "shadow" him to make sure that biting opportunities are headed off BEFORE they can get to the point of a bite.

Answer 4

When I was a tot, I was a "biter." I didn't do it out of anger, I did it out of affection. I'd often bite my father's shoulders or my friends, and of course got in trouble for it. My parents recognized that it was how I was attempting to show affection and not frustration, and they had me give big "bear" hugs instead of biting (I guess I thought a bite was more affection than a regular hug).

I've babysat some toddlers who are biters, and I think it's for the same reason - they don't know how to express themselves properly and until they learn how to channel that affection into something better (like a hug or a kiss, or a verbal expression of affection) they tend to bite. If it's not out of anger or frustration, but just in normal play, suggest that your son give hugs instead of biting, and see if that changes anything. Explain that biting isn't acceptable for humans to do to each other, puppies and kitties can bite each other and do it out of love, but humans have other ways of showing affection, like a hug or a pat on the back or a kiss.

Answer 5

Mine went through this for over a year. After trying everyone's reccomendations, including biting her, which didn't work, I put soap in her mouth when she bit me. After 3 times she never bit again. Then I bought a book on amazon.com called Teeth are Not for Biting. For some reason she really loved this book and it helped her understand in words that she could relate to. I would definitely reccommend this book and the soap in the mouth!

Answer 6

I have been told to bite them back. Not to hard!! But to grab their attention. They do not understand that something that don't hurt them...won't hurt you.

My sister allowed her son to chew on her fingers when her son was teething...I almost fell out. "That teaches him to bite." I told her. It is what I have heard over and over. I got really fancy with my children and I gave them a metal spoon from the fridge. Let them chew on that and neither one of my 2 children plus the 3 that I have Nannied ever bit. (my son is only 7 weeks younger than my sister's son). Also they can see it at the daycare if they go to a day care...childcare center. Another child can be biting them.

Answer 7

Hi
Your child has just discovered a dreadful weapon TO BE WITH YOU.
It is very well know fact that touch of parents provide a sense of security to child. And children do need to get noticed and ATTENTION.

He has figured it out by doing so he can get back to you. He does not know that it is bad habit. Or it can harm someone else. He just knows that by doing so, you will come back and take it to home or get your immediate attention. So he is doing so. He probably feels INSECURE being without you and found it effective to get attention and then you.
SKIN CONTACT of mother provides extreme sense of security to the growing child. Is he missing it? Think about it. Does he need more attention and time form you? Do you ignore him when he calls you or want your attention in some mater e.g. while playing a game?
If you will look into this in detail, you may find the answer but not the solution.

There is very remote chances that he may have “ worms” in the belly.(bowels), a disease known as “ Helmenthiasis” and when he gets disturbed by them, then he bites not knowing how to react. So get help to get rid of this to rule it’s role.

My advice to you is to get opinion of a child-psychologist or psychiatrist in this concern. If he continues to do so, then with passage of time, it will become his second nature to reflect his emotions and may lead to anti-social behavior in future.
Regards

Answer 8

my son did that at age 2 as well, he understood no biting and continued to do it as well. We finally just had to show him that it hurt when he bit people and when he would bite us we would bite him back. Not real hard, just enough pressure to show him that it hurt. He actually drew blood on his sister a couple of times and when we showed him that and bit him, he knew not to do it. I know it sounds horrible, but it worked, he quit biting with in a week or two. Good Luck!

Answer 9

It's a normal thing at his age! I know it sounds mean, but the only way I could get my Son to quit biting when he was two, was to bite him back! I bit a little harder than I entended to, but it finally made him understand what he was doing to others! He never bit anyone again after that.

Answer 10

Next time he bites you, bite him back and let him feel it. Then he'll know what it feels like. The theory of "reasoning" with a 2-year-old is hogwash.