What do I do if my child bites themselves or others?

If your child is biting, there may be an underlying sensory issue at play. Sensory processing symptoms exist on a spectrum, and no one person experiences or responds to them in the same way. For example, a child may bristle or melt down in response to bright light, loud noises, or certain smells. Depending on the intensity of your child’s sensory challenges and co-occurring conditions, they could present with milder or more severe sensory-seeking and/or sensory-avoiding behaviors. A child with more severe sensory issues might react by hitting themselves, screaming, biting, or smearing feces. A well-designed sensory diet, which is a set of compensatory strategies and activities created by an occupational therapist to help a child better cope with sensory processing difficulties, can help alleviate that discomfort.

It's important to remember that every behavior is a form of communication, even biting. The real question is what is your child trying to communicate?

For more information, see our full article on understanding and managing challenging behaviors.