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Biting at Nursery

3 replies

NickB87 · 29/06/2018 10:32

My son is just turning 17 months old and has become a biter. The main offenses happen when he is at nursery. He attends 3 days a week from 8am until 6pm. I am aware that some children can go through a biting phase and there are many causes of this. He has been teething, he also gets a little bity when he is over tired or frustrated. We also believe there may be a little bit of attention seeking thrown in there as well. We went through a stage where he had bitten 9 children in the space of 2 days. We thought we were getting past this stage as the biting seemed to calm down and we had a couple of weeks without incident. However we are starting to get a few incidents again happening, not every day at nursery but at least once a week. We have had discussions with the nursery on what they are doing and what we can do to try to help at home. On the most there seems to be no apparent cause or trigger for the biting. We have steps in place at nursery that if he does they tell him no that he shouldn't bike and remove him from the situation. the bitten child receives a lot of attention then. My child is very inquisitive and does not want to sleep when other things are happening around him to the point he goes of the day without sleeping until he literally falls asleep no matter what he is doing. As over tiredness is affecting this as well we have steps in place with the nursery to try to help him get regular naps so he does not become over tired. I am concerned now however as my child was given a final warning yesterday that if this continues they would have to expel him from nursery after a parent had put in a formal complaint. My son adores all the staff and they adore him to and he is very settled there as he has been attending since he was 5 months old. I really need some more advise on what we can do in this situation.

OP posts:
LipstickHandbagCoffee · 29/06/2018 12:52

He’s not a biter,he’s a child who bites.you and nursery need to collaboratively address it
My kids all unfortunately experienced being bitten at nursery.and it’s scary and upsetting
Look at the triggers,the flare ups ,try preempt them, use distraction
Remember to reward good behaviour spontaneously and ongoing, so he doesn’t only get attention for biting chances are he’ll grow out of it
Work closely with the nursery
If you are out socially keep an eye on the baby, and be ready to intervene if biting occurs

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 29/06/2018 12:55

I’d also start looking for another nursery in case they terminate your place
Child at my kids nursery was asked to leave for repeated biting, we all complained

magicroundabouts · 29/06/2018 15:50

There will be a trigger for the biting. Behaviour is communication. At 17 months children don't have the skills to verbally express their feelings, so they react physically i.e. hitting, biting etc. The difficulty is in finding out why.

Has Nursery done an ABC chart? cursos.campusvirtualsp.org/pluginfile.php/87023/mod_resource/content/1/ABC%20Chart.pdf. If not I'd be asking why, especially as they have issued a final warning. I'd also check what extra support they are providing. He will need to be closely supervised so they can step in before an incident occurs. If they haven't or are not prepared to make reasonable adjustments then I would be looking at moving nurseries.

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