Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Biting - Topic Overview
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Symptoms
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Home Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Is it normal for a child to bite?
Most children younger than age 3 bite someone else at least once. Most children stop biting on their own. Biting that happens past age 3 or occurs frequently at any age may need treatment. Biting is not always intentional, and it rarely causes serious injury to another person or poses any health risks.
Why do children bite?
Children bite for different reasons, depending on their age.
- Between 5 and 7 months of age, children usually bite other people when they feel discomfort around their mouths or when they are in pain caused by teething. Most often they bite their caregivers. Sometimes a young baby bites his or her mother during breast-feeding. Children of this age learn not to bite as they see and hear the reaction of the person they have bitten.
- Between 8 and 14 months of age, children usually bite other people when they are excited. Most often they bite a caregiver or another child close to them. A firm "no" usually stops these children from biting again.
- Between 15 and 36 months of age, children may bite other people when they are frustrated or want power or control over another person. Usually they bite other children. Less frequently they bite their caregivers. Children of this age usually stop biting as they learn that biting is not acceptable behavior.
- After age 3, children usually bite when they feel powerless or scared, such as when they are losing a fight or think that they are going to be hurt by another person. Children older than 3 who frequently bite other people need to see a doctor. Biting at this age may be a sign that a child has problems with expressing feelings or self-control.
When is my child most likely to bite another child?
Biting occurs in a variety of situations, most often when many children are together. In the United States, human bites are a common cause of injury at day care centers.1 Most biting can be prevented with proper supervision that includes helping children express their feelings appropriately.
A child of any age who frequently bites other children may need special arrangements for day care. Parents may be asked to transfer their child out of a center when biting becomes a continual problem. The child may need to attend a child care center with staff who are skilled in dealing with children who bite.
Can biting be a sign of a more serious problem?
Biting in young children usually does not lead to behavior problems at a later age. But children who persistently bite and show other aggressive behaviors, especially if they are older than age 3, may have other health or emotional issues. These children should be seen by a doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning about biting: | |
Seeing a doctor: | |
Ongoing concerns: |
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: April 8, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
Welcome to Care Circle, an exclusive tool to help you take care of yourself and your loved ones. Here's how it works:
- Create profiles for yourself and your loved ones.
- Select the topics and conditions that interest each of you.
- Get customized news updates, original content, tools, and expert advice for each Care Circle member delivered directly to your personalized homepage.
The information you input is strictly private; you choose who has access to your Care Circle.
How do I add myself or someone else to my care circle?
Click on "Add someone." Fill out the short profile. Choose an avatar. Select the topics and conditions that interest this person from the pulldown menu. You can select as many as you want, but you must choose at least one. Click on "Add Someone" again. You should start getting updates immediately.
How do I save content to my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab of the person for whom you're saving content. Put your cursor over the piece of content that you want to save; a disk icon will appear in the righthand corner. Click on the disk and the piece of content will be moved to a save folder.
How do I add additional topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Add More to Follow," select additional topics and conditions.
How do I delete topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?
Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Follows," scroll over the topic or condition you want to delete. An "X" should appear on the righthand side. Click on the "X" and the topic or condition will be deleted from the list.
To manage your Care Circle, Please
Sign In.
from
- Facebook is now fueling organ donations
- Military women and suicide: Home safe but not sound
- Still in gear: Injuries don’t stop veterans on 100-day bike trek
- Ask Jenna: I've hit a weight loss plateau. What do I do?
- He poses in a tutu to laugh in face of wife's cancer
- After chemo hair loss, 'henna crowns' help heal
The iVillage Network