Aibu to ask for strategies to stop toddler biting

[Marmalady75]

My ds is 2.5 and has recently started playgroup. He has made friends with a little boy who bites. My ds has now bitten two other children. I'm sure if he is copying his friend or (as the leader suggests) it's just a phase that some children go through. I'm mortified at his behaviour and looking for ideas to stop this from happening again. It seems to be when other children take toys off him that he has bitten them. He doesn't bite when he is at home. Help.

How is his speech? DS1 had a significant speech delay (and later dx with autism) and he was a biter from about 2 yo. I tried everything short of biting him back (was never going to happen but you’d be surprised at how many people suggested it )

Sometimes frustration and defending themselves/toys can lead to biting, especially if they aren’t able to express themselves which is why I asked about his speech,

Thanks for such a quick reply. His speech generally is ok, but thinking about it we haven't really worked on vocabulary like "that's my toy" or "I want that back". He is an only child and usually plays well alongside others. If someone took a toy off him before he would just wander off and find another one. I could work on the vocabulary with him.

It might not be that, it’s just my experience with my boys iyswim? Making sure he knows how to say “no I don’t like that” or “no, I’m using this” might be handy though!