Anyone who has been a professional child care provider for even a short period of time has undoubtedly experienced the horrors of biting. Statistics show that 1 out of every 10 toddler through two year olds go through this very common and unsettling stage. In order to know how to respond appropriately and develop a behavior technique it is helpful to understand the different types of biters. There are four basic categories:

The Experimental Biter: An infant or young child may take an experimental bite out of a mother's breast or a caregiver's shoulder. When this occurs adults should use prompt, clear signals to communicate that children must not bite people. "No" said sharply, would be an appropriate response. These experimental biters may simply want to touch, smell and taste other people in order to learn more about their world. Their muscles are developing, and they need to experiment. Provide them with a variety of surfaces to play on and a colorful selection of toys to stimulate children during this stage of exploration. This type of biter may be motivated by teething pain. Offer teething biscuits, or a safe teething ring.

The Frustrated Biter: Some biters lack he skills to cope with situations such as the desire for an adult's attention or another child's toy. Even though the child may not have intended to harm another person, adults must react with disapproval. First, tend to the victim immediately. Then explain to the biter that biting hurts others and is not allowed - the caregiver's job is to keep all children safe. You may help frustrated biters by teaching them appropriate language to show their feelings or get what they need. Give positive reinforcement when children communicate effectively. Also, watch for signs of rising frustration. Spotting potential conflict may help you intercept a potentially harmful incident.

The Threatened Biter: Some children, feeling the are endangered, bite in self-defense. They may overwhelmed by their surroundings, and bite as a means of regaining control. In this case, use the intervention techniques already mentioned, and assure the child that his rights and possessions are safe. Children may become threatened by situations such as newly separated parents, the death of a grandparent, a mother returning to the work force, or any other changes occurring in the home. The threatened biter may require additional nurturing, particularly if the danger is along the lines of physical violence at home or in the immediate neighborhood. In any case, the bond between child and 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, the behavior is strongly reinforced. Give the biter choices throughout the day and reinforce positive social behavior (like sharing and saying thanks). If the biter gets attention when she is not biting, she will not have to resort to aggressive behavior to feel a sense of personal power. Never hit or "bite back" a child for biting. This communicates that violence is an appropriate way to handle emotion. The approach should be calm and educational. A child should not experience any reward for biting - not even the "reward" of negative attention.

Some other suggestions for caregivers:
In the heat of a biting incident, it's important to remain calm and explain to the child that biting hurts and have them help "take care of" the bitee by applying a cold rag, some ice or even a Band-Aid while modeling empathy for the bitten child. This will help them understand cause and effect. And then in a calmer moment, take time to demonstrate gentle touches.

It is desirable NOT to communicate the identities of the bitee and biter to the respective parents. Unwittingly the parents of the bitten child may harbor some resentment or ill feelings toward the biter and this could escalate into an uncomfortable situation. You can assure both parents that you are handling the situation and will eliminate it as soon as possible.

In the case of a persistent biter, keep him close al all times is very important. There will be times when you can prevent the attack just by being in close proximity.

Parents and caregivers must cooperate to prevent children from biting. If children are permitted to demonstrate such behavior at home, there will be no chance of eliminating it in the center, program, or family child care home Working as a team, educators and parents may identify possible reasons for a child's biting and respond accordingly. While early childhood professionals may be more familiar with positive discipine techniques, parents are experts on their own children's behavior. Take the time to look for patterns in the biter's environment and emotional state at each episode. Does the child always bite the same individual? Is the biter simply exhausted, or hungry? Be ready to intervene immediately, but carefully. Teaching children age-appropriate ways to control themselves encourages the development of confidence and self-esteem. We can guide children towards self-control and away from biting. The key is understanding---for adults and children alike.