"I invite you to send me your child health and wellness related questions. One of the the most satisfying aspects of being a pediatrician is answering parents' questions and concerns. As a doctor, I feel that the more you know about your child's health and wellness (in terms of illness, normal growth and development and, importantly, prevention), the more comfortable you can be with your kids! A new column is posted every Friday and appears on this page. Unfortunately, I cannot give personal replies but will answer as many questions as possible in my weekly column. Click on the ASK DR.PAUL Library link at the bottom of this page and you may find information on the topic that interests you." - DR. PAUL

This Week's Column

Biting: A Common Problem

DEAR DR.PAUL: My 2 year old son keeps biting his sister.Is this normal? What can I do? It is very frustrating.

DR.PAUL ANSWERS: Your question is a rather common one. In fact, one out of ten toddlers bites. Before I discuss some specifics on how to handle biters, it is important to know what types of biter a child is. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, there are 4 different types of biters:

The experimental biter: An infant or young child may take an experimental bite out of a mother's breast or a caregiver's shoulder. Experimental biters may simply want to touch, smell and taste others in order to learn. In other words, they need to experiment. This type of biting may also be a result of teething pain. When this occurs, adults should make it very clear that children must not bite, like by saying "NO!" sternly.

The frustrated biter: Some children may not yet have the skills to deal with wanting an adult's attention or another child's toy. Even though the child may not intend to harm, caregivers must react with disapproval. First, the victim should be tended immediately and then explain to the biter that biting hurts and is not allowed. Such children need to learn the appropriate language and skills to show their feelings or get what they need, without resorting to aggressive acts such as biting. So, parents should watch for signs of rising frustration and give positive reinforcement when a child communicates effectively, without biting.

The threatened biter: Certain children bite in self-defense because they are overwhelmed or afraid in their surroundings, and bite as a means of regaining control. Situations such as newly separated parents, the death of a grandparent, or a mother returning to the work may be stressing or threatening the child. The threatened biter may require additional nurturing, particularly if the danger is related to physical violence or other problems in the home setting. In this circumstance, the caregiver should be as warm and reassuring as possible.

The power biter: Some children experience a strong need for autonomy and control. As soon as they see the response they get from biting, this behavior is strongly reinforced, so they continue to bite. In this situation the biter should be given choices throughout the day. Also, they need a lot of positive reinforcement when they do things like sharing and saying thanks instead of resorting to biting. If the biter gets attention when not biting, she/he will not have to bite in order to gain as a sense of power.

On a final note, here are some general rules on how to approach children that bite others:

The information provided in this site is designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always consult a physician.

© Dr.Paul Communications Inc., All rights reserved