Understanding Biting in Infants and Toddlers: A Guide for Parents
As parents and caregivers, few behaviors cause as much stress and immediate concern as biting. Whether your child was the one who bit or the one who was bitten, it naturally evokes strong emotional responses. At our center, we want to reassure our families that biting is a well-documented, common, and normal developmental stage in early childhood.
While biting is a normal phase, it is also a behavior that requires thoughtful intervention, clear communication, and collaboration between parents and educators to resolve. Here is a closer look at why young children bite, how we address it at our daycare, and how we partner with families to support every child’s growth.
Why Young Children Bite
Children under the age of three rarely bite out of malice or a desire to hurt others. Instead, biting serves as a form of communication or sensory exploration when other tools are not yet available to them. Understanding the underlying root cause is the primary step in helping a child move past this behavior.
Common Drivers Behind Early Childhood Biting
├── Sensory Seeking & Exploration (Exploring textures, oral input)
├── Teething & Physical Discomfort (Relieving gum pressure)
├── Emotional & Physical Needs (Hunger, fatigue, feeling overwhelmed)
└── Communication & Language Barriers (Frustration, expressing boundaries)
1. Lack of Language and Frustration
Infants and young toddlers experience big emotions, strong preferences, and clear boundaries, but they lack the expressive language skills required to say, "I'm overwhelmed," "That's my toy," or "You are in my personal space." Biting often acts as an impulsive release of frustration when language falls short.
2. Teething and Physical Discomfort
When infants and young toddlers cut new teeth, their gums become swollen, tender, and uncomfortable. Applying pressure to their gums through biting provides immediate physical relief.
3. Sensory Seeking and Oral Exploration
Young infants explore the world primarily through their mouths. As toddlers mature, some continue to seek intense oral-sensory input to help regulate their nervous systems when feeling either under-stimulated or over-stimulated by their environment.
4. Hunger, Fatigue, and Feeling Overwhelmed
Just like adults, young children experience shifts in patience and emotional regulation when basic physical needs are unmet. A child who is tired, hungry, or overstimulated by a busy classroom environment is significantly more likely to react impulsively.
How Our Daycare Center Supports Children and Families
Our goal is always to maintain a safe, nurturing environment for all children while helping toddlers develop appropriate social and emotional skills. We address biting through proactive strategies, active supervision, and direct partnership with parents.
Classroom Environment & Supervision
Shadowing and Proximity: When a pattern of biting emerges, educators adjust classroom positioning to remain within arm's reach of the child, stepping in to redirect before an incident occurs.
Teaching Alternative Language and Actions: We teach children simple words and gestures like "Stop," "Mine," or "Space" to empower them to express boundaries without physical behaviors.
Providing Sensory Outlets: We offer appropriate chewing alternatives, such as refrigerated teethers or chewable jewelry, for children who need oral-sensory regulation.
Partnering with Parents
Consistent routines between home and school make a significant difference. When a biting incident occurs, we inform parents promptly and confidentially—never sharing the identity of other children involved—to maintain a supportive environment for all families. We work directly with parents to evaluate triggers, align on communication strategies, and implement consistent responses across both settings.
Our Approach to Disenrollment
Because biting is a recognized developmental stage, disenrollment is never our first reaction—it is strictly a last resort. We view behavior as a form of communication, and our primary commitment is working through challenges alongside families. Disenrollment is only considered in rare, extreme circumstances where, despite exhaustive individual action plans, specialized interventions, and continuous parent collaboration, we cannot maintain a safe environment for the children in our care.
What You Can Do at Home
If your child is going through a biting phase, staying calm and consistent is key:
Keep Reactions Neutral: Deep breaths help. A dramatic reaction can accidentally reinforce the behavior by giving it high-energy attention.
Label the Emotion: Say things like, "You were angry, but biting hurts. Use your words or ask for help."
Offer Alternatives: Redirect to a safe teether or a heavy-work sensory activity like squeezing a stress ball or jumping.
Maintain Communication: Keep us updated on shifts at home—such as sleeping changes, new teeth coming in, or schedule disruptions—so we can adapt our support in the classroom.
By remaining patient, observant, and united as a team, we can guide young children through this challenging developmental milestone together.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2020). Understanding Biting Behavior in Young Children. HealthyChildren.org.
Bank, L., & Wright, L. (2019). Addressing Biting in Early Childhood Settings. Young Children, 74(3), 42-48. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Gartrell, D. (2018). Guidance Matters: Dealing with Biting in the Toddler Classroom. Child Care Information Exchange, 240, 56-59.
Zero to Three. (2021). Toddlers and Biting: Finding the Causes and Solutions. National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). (2022). Preventing and Managing Biting in Early Care and Education Programs. Child Care Technical Assistance Network (CCTAN).