Most toddlers are in the habit of biting between the age of one and three years. For them this is the way of communication, before they start verbal contact. Of course, not all the children resort to biting some of them uses grabbing, shoving or punching.
The other reason toddlers bite is to express their frustration, which is common to toddler’s that is due to their communication and motor skills, are limited.
The toddler can also resort to biting when they are teething, or they like to put everything in their mouth and so why not anyone’s arm or any other part of the body. It could be due to hunger and they are unable to express themselves.
Teach your child not to bite anyone. Make it very clear from the beginning that biting is wrong and very hurting. Point out to them that how much pain the biting causes. Make them understand that this will not be tolerated and unacceptable by the parents.
If you feel the child is biting due to some frustration, give them an alternate method to vent their frustration. The child can be taught to express themselves in different ways. Of course language will be difficult still they can be taught some appropriate words.
For instance, “You need to tell mommy or daddy that you need help and not bite us,” or “Show mommy what you need, but don’t bite. You’ll hurt her if you bite and I know you don’t want to hurt mommy, do you?”
The experts agree that too much attention should not be paid to the biting as then it becomes an attention-getter. This is true of all behavior that you don’t want to see repeated. Firmly tell the child again that there is no biting allowed, that it is wrong, and that it hurts people.