The child bites: what are the reasons and what to do
Some parents have to deal with a problem when their baby suddenly starts biting. There can be many reasons for this behavior. It is important to identify them accurately and take action to wean the child from this habit.
Why does the child bite
As a rule, the baby begins to show a tendency to bite at the time when his teeth are erupting. During this period, he is not yet aware of his actions. The task of the parents in this case is to help the baby. If the child continues to bite at an older age, then it is necessary to explain to the baby that he is behaving badly and ugly.
Such situations very often happen in kindergartens and on playgrounds. In this case, biting appears as the first way to protect yourself.
The reasons why the baby begins to bite:
- The desire to bite occurs in children who are aggression as well as as a result of despair or helplessness.
- Some children try to express dissatisfaction with something in this way or want to draw the attention of adults to themselves.
- Some children bite because they feel pain in teeth.
- At a young age, a child learns the world through taste. Therefore, biting can be a manifestation of learning something new.
- If the child feels weaker than the opponent or does not know how to stand up for himself in a different way.
- The kid can take revenge for the insult.
- For some children, biting is a way to gain leadership positions.
In any case, parents must immediately take effective measures to stop this behavior and wean the child from this habit. Retaliation must be taken immediately after the offense has been committed. But at the same time it is important not to raise voices to the baby and not to beat him. The remark should be made in a stern voice, calmly, so that the child understands why he is being scolded.
What to do if a child bites
To get started, observe your baby and find out in what situations he wants to bite. If possible, you should take steps to prevent this behavior of the baby and resolve the conflict in another way.
Whenever you see that a child is about to bite, you must cover his mouth with your palm to create a physical obstacle to prevent the bite. At the same time, tell in a strict and decisive voice that you should not bite. Of course, the first time the baby will not understand this. But on 10 times or on the 20th, your ban will be understood. It is important that all adults around the baby react in this way, and not be moved by his actions.
Do not hit or shout at the child. The child bites from an overwhelming feeling of anger and helplessness. At this moment, he is not aware of his actions. The punishment will further provoke the baby to aggression.
You need to help your child express his emotions in words. For example, tell him fairy tale about the biting boy, his behavior and what it led to. Invite your kid to participate in this fairy tale, let him suggest his own ways to protect yourself from a biting boy. You must communicate that you need to express your bad feelings. in words rather than biting.
For older children, it is helpful to use timeouts. In the case of an unacceptable child behavior should be excommunicated from the game and left alone for a while, offering to reflect on their behavior. It is not necessary to take the baby out of the playroom for this. It is enough just to take him to a corner. At the same time, the child should not be distracted by anything, otherwise the entire educational effect will come to naught.
