The cause of child biting is one of the issues that many parents face and sometimes they don't know how to react. This behavior can have various reasons such as curiosity, the need to attract attention, anger or even pain caused by teething. In fact, biting is not only a physical reaction but also a means of expressing the child's feelings. Therefore, if it is not managed properly, it becomes a habit. In this article, we will examine the reasons and solutions to deal with this behavior.
The most common reasons for biting children
The most common reasons for biting children is a topic that worries many parents. This behavior is annoying or worrying at first glance, but it is rooted in the special needs and conditions of the child's development. One of the most important reasons is as follows:
Curiosity and knowledge of the environment
In the early years of life, children experience their surroundings more with their mouths, so biting is a natural way for them to recognize objects, people and even feelings. Of course, we must mention that this behavior at a young age is mostly due to curiosity and naturally decreases with growth and learning.
Teething and feeling pain
One of the most common reasons for biting at a young age is the pressure and itching of the gums during teething. To reduce this discomfort, the child turns to biting objects or even people around him. For this reason, using a toothpick or gum soothing methods is very effective to reduce this behavior.
Getting the attention of parents or others
Sometimes a child tries to get a parent's attention by biting, especially when they feel neglected. Even the negative reactions of parents are considered a form of attention for him, so the behavior of parents is of great importance.
Expressing anger or extreme emotions
Children do not yet have the skills to express their complex emotions in words, so when they feel angry, frustrated or excited, they react by biting. Therefore, teaching simple skills to express emotions can be a suitable alternative.
imitating others or observing similar behavior
Children imitate the behaviors of others quickly. If in the living or playing environment, another child bites, it is likely that the child will repeat this behavior. In this case, the role of parents in correcting and directing behavior is very key.
What should a family do to prevent a child from biting?
Families play a very important role in preventing child biting because the behavior and reaction of parents can determine the severity or reduction of this habit. The most important of these prevention methods are as follows:
- Being calm and the right reaction of parents when biting a child without getting angry and even scaring him
- Teaching the child to express his feelings with words or simple gestures instead of biting
- adequate attention to the child and encouraging positive behaviors to avoid attracting negative attention
- Using safe devices such as toothpicks or suitable toys during teething
- Monitoring the child's relationships in the play environment and preventing them from observing or imitating similar behaviors
- Teaching social skills and cooperation in the game to reduce negative behaviors
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At what age is it normal to bite a child?
Child biting in the early years of life is a relatively normal behavior and is not usually a cause for concern. This behavior is mostly observed between the ages of one and three years, when the child still does not have the full ability to express his feelings and needs in words.
During this period, biting can be a sign of curiosity, a reaction to teething, or a tool to get attention. Often, with the development of the child's language and social skills, this behavior gradually decreases and disappears.
Does ignoring a child-bite make his behavior worse?
Ignoring a child's biting is not always a good solution and sometimes it can aggravate this behavior. If the child realizes that biting is not getting attention, he may act more aggressively to get a reaction.
On the other hand, the nervous and violent reactions of parents can also strengthen this behavior. The best way to deal with it is a calm and decisive reaction along with teaching the right alternatives to express feelings so that the child learns to express his needs without biting.
FAQ
No in most cases and this behavior is normal and temporary, which means it is not considered a behavioral problem unless it is severe or frequent.
If the child's behavior is severe, frequent or accompanied by excessive violence and does not decrease with usual methods, visiting the best occupational therapy center will be very helpful.
Complete ignoring is not always effective and it is likely to cause the child to show more severe behavior, so a calm reaction and training is considered the best alternative method.
Finally…
Child biting is a temporary behavior that is often rooted in developmental needs, curiosity or inability to express emotions. With the correct reaction of parents, training of social skills and attention to emotional needs, this habit will decrease over time. Ignorance or quick reactions can make the situation worse, while patience, proper guidance and creating a calm environment are the best ways to prevent and correct this behavior.
