BABY
How to Deal When Your Baby Bites, Pulls Hair, or Pinches
It is common for babies to poke, pinch, pull, and even bite the grownups they love. Here’s how to handle it.
Written by
Happiest Baby Staff
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BABY
Written by
Happiest Baby Staff
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One day, your precious baby may appear to suddenly turn on you, unexpectedly pinching your skin or yanking your hair. (Ouch!) Do not freak out! Your little one has not morphed into a tiny bully. It is quite common for babies to poke, pinch, pull, and even bite the grownups they love the most. Like so many things with kiddos, this is just a stage. Here is how to get through it (almost) unscathed.
Chances are, your little one’s “aggressive” behaviours began somewhere between the ages of 6 and 12 months old. This is prime time for your baby’s explorer tendencies to explode. They are very busy getting to know the world around them, examining the way things taste and feel...and the brand-new concept of cause and effect. (If I pull this, Mama does that!) Adding to the excitement: You little one’s fine motor skills are really starting to come together around 9 months, as they start to master what is called the pincer grasp. This is when babies can use their thumb and forefinger together to grasp objects...like your hair and skin. But truly, your baby is not trying to hurt you! They simply put these behaviours on repeat because that is how they learn. It is up to you to gently redirect these actions. If you do not then pinching during breastfeeding, for example, will become a habit. That said, biting while breastfeeding could mean something else is going on.
In addition to the above explanations, your little one may be using their teeth on you due to…
Whether your nugget has taken to pulling your hair, pinching your arm, or biting your breast, the make-it-stop principles remain the same. Here they are:
Hitting, kicking, biting, pulling tends to peak between the ages of 18 months and 2.5 years old when kiddos are bursting with emotions, but their communication skills have not caught up. Remember, toddlers are not mini-adults (or even mini-big kids) ...they are more like uncivilised little cave-kids! So, it is no wonder that these little tykes have days when their impulsive, primitive nature takes control and makes them do things they should not. If you’ve got a toddler who’s demonstrating some aggressive behaviours, it is important to act swiftly...but gently.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
