Toddler Gets into Biting "Frenzies"

Updated on March 25, 2013
M.A. asks from Patchogue, NY
9 answers

Ugh!!! My DS will be 2 in 2 months and I notice that lately he gets in these excited, running around screeching fits. He's happy and laughing, but lately he's started biting us! Just today, my DH, mom, sister and myself were sitting on the couch and he runs up and tries to bite all of us, but he's happy and smiling. We tell him not to bite and to do nice, but he sometimes will try it again, sometimes he listens.

Anyone deal with this?

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Featured Answers

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

You must stop the cycle. So he's running around, happy and smiling, and starts trying to bite. You need to grab him. Stop him physically, and very FIRMLY say "NO! NO! We don't bite. NO!" Hold his gaze long enough for him to know that it's NOT funtime anymore before letting him go. If he cries, don't try to comfort him. He was wrong and needs to remember that.

Do it again and again. If needed, remove him completely from all attention.

ETA: FWIW, I'm an advocate of biting back. It's worked in my family. My kids bit maybe two times each, and were bitten back by either my mom or me. They stopped. I know it's not for everyone, but it worked for us.

More Answers

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

Most toddlers do this. When mine do, I calmly but firmly say, "No biting. Biting hurts. If you bite me, I will have to put you down/in time out/etc." He rarely listens the first time, but with toddlers it is all about repetition and being consistent.

4 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Yes, Our daughter went through this.. you could hear the Chomping teeth!!!

We would have to hold her at arms length.. and we would warn each other if we saw her mouth open heading towards our necks or backs of our legs.. Like a vampire!

She would get so excited and then run and clamp on..

We just had to tell her "STOP!" "No biting. That hurts!".. Then we would not allow her near us until she stopped.

We would try really hard not to burst out laughing, but also control ourselves not to react physically when she did get a big bite out of us.

It will pass, but you just have to be consistent that biting in a big NO!

4 moms found this helpful
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B.F.

answers from Dallas on

Make sure nobody smiles or encourages this in any way. Removal to his crib can make it real. Wash, rinse, repeat.

3 moms found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Sensory overload! My son used to do something similar. Work on recognizing the triggers and teaching him ways to calm down before he gets the urge to bite or give him an object that he can bite when he gets wound up such as chewie objects from this place :

http://www.autismshop.com/chewables-sensory-items/?sort_b...

3 moms found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Many babies and toddlers do it, yet it doesn't matter if he's happy and smiling when he bites, it's still an undesirable trait you want to stop. Hitting and biting aren't tolerated in the real world, trust me, you don't want your child bit, right?

Tell him that biting is a no-no or whatever term you use to designate something he shouldn't do, that we only bite our food. When he bites, you or the person he bit need to 1) not laugh or smile, 2) say sternly and matter-of-fact "We do not bite. We do not hurt people. You need to calm down." And place him in a time out or his room until he calms down, even if you have to hold him there until he calms down and learns to sit there on his own.

Be consistent in your reaction to biting so he understands he can't do it, ever, even if it takes several months (hopefully it won't.) You reacting the same way over time is what will teach him you are serious and he needs to listen, a skill all children need. As far as his running, screeching fits make sure he's getting plenty of physical exercise running and jumping outside as much as weather allows, and let him know running is for outside. If you need to use time-outs to get him to understand he needs to calm down inside, do it. Running inside can be dangerous.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Sacramento on

He sounds overstimulated and/over tired. I would pay attention to when (in relation to nap or bedtime) that he doing it. Does he have a set nap schedule? Often people do not think that their kids are tired because they have these burst of energy and then when they think they should be ready for a nap the kids won't sleep... because you've missed the window and now they are over tired with their second wind.

If he's just wound up and is being impulsive because of overestimation, I would get on eye level and tell him firmly, "biting hurts." Then I would redirect to a calm activity.

Good luck~

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

He's normal.
He may be teething.
But he is normal.
They do not have, full development of impulse control yet.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

I used to babysit for a biter. She is now 14. When I babysat her, I also had another little boy. She bit him a few times. I tried everything. Then one day, right in front of me, she went to bite him. I grabbed her and plopped her on the couch that she was never to do that again. I think the element of shock and surprise made an I press ion. She never bit again.

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