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Toddler biting soft toys..normal??

2 replies

bonbonpixie · 13/07/2014 00:04

My 24 month old daughter is generally a kind, loving and happy little girl but recently has been displaying some behaviour that really has me perplexed. Whilst playing with her baby doll and soft toys she will bite them repeatedly with varying degrees of intensity then will turn and say 'baby cry' or 'name of soft toy cry'. These incidents aren't usually part of a tantrum in fact generally speaking she normally isn't upset either before or after. I have no clue as to why she does this.

She has never bitten another child and nursery have never had any issues with her behaviour. She does sometimes bite and scratch DH and I but it's almost always during a period of rough/silly play and it seems to me that she just gets too excited and the bite happens when she is just to wound up. She is improving in that area all the time. When she bites her dolls I normally agree that yes they are crying because she has bitten them and bites hurt then often without prompting she will kiss the 'ouch' and give it a hug.

Hoping that someone can tell me that this is just a phase and maybe offer an opinion as to why she might be doing this!?
Often it's the dolls face or eyes that are the target.

I am currently 22 weeks pregnant with DC2 so wondering if it could be a reaction to that?

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fanjobiscuits · 13/07/2014 00:08

My one year old bites all soft toys in the nose. It seems to be as a form of greeting, whether well meaning or not I have no idea. Not sure if that helps with your situation as it's a different age but just wanted to reassure you there are other teddy chompers out there.

melisma · 13/07/2014 04:13

My 2.4 yr old DS does this too. Like you I have just been saying "ouch,that must hurt " and he'll then say "yes is sad, he crying, I kiss it better" and will give it a big cuddle. I think he's just sort of getting to grips with cause and effect, and understanding how his actions affect others (which I guess is the beginnings of empathy really) e.g. biting hurts, it makes people cry and feel sad, through 'rehearsing' it with his toys! Like you we've never really had any 'real life' biting incidents either so far

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