Joanna Fortune: My two-year-old bit another child at creche. What can I do?

He’s usually well-behaved, always saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. What can I do to ensure this does not happen again?

There is a spike in biting in children of this age when cutting a new tooth

Tue, 11 Apr, 2023 - 02:00

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Dr Joanna Fortune is a psychotherapist working with children, teens, and adults. She is a recognised expert in play and the author of four books on the subject.

I got a call from the creche to say that my two-year-old son bit another child. I was shocked as he’s usually well-behaved, always saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. What can I do to ensure this does not happen again?

Toddler biting is extremely common. Young children are still developing their understanding of the world and of people and how they position themselves in their environment. They are curious and learn in a physical, active, and tactile-sensory way. They are still developing expressive language.