Toddler biting herself

[jilkens]

I'm pretty sure this is a typical behaviour from a toddler, but I would appreciate some input on how to deal with it.

My daughter is going on 2 and gets extremely frustrated when she cannot verbalize what she's trying to say. She doesn't lash out, but tends to bite her hands & arms hard enough to leave a mark. Trying to stop her seems to make her even angrier. I've tried walking away, but she'll follow me around and continue to bite herself. Talking to her calmly seems to have a positive effect half the time.

Is there anything else I can try for the times when talking to her calmly doesn't work?

[Ada]

I expect you've already tried it, but singing might also help. I used to have one song that I used with an autistic pre-schooler when he was bitey [himself or me]. It didn't cure it, but could divert it, or later, I think it might have signalled in some way that I understood he was angry which helped too. [Impossible to know, since he was non-verbal.]

I do think it is typical for toddlers, so wouldn't worry unless it seems to be turning into a habit, the biting breaks skin, or if she starts on other people [which is again not untypical, but less acceptable to wait it out.]

[jilkens]

Thanks Ada!

I tried singing to her today and it didn't do much. By doing it each time I'm hoping it becomes a cue.

[Tempest88]

My daughter is going on 2

She's 2 already? She looked like a baby in her picture. I guess my sense of time is messed up

I'm pretty sure this is a typical behaviour from a toddler

Does she do this daily? If so, how many times a day on average?

gets extremely frustrated when she cannot verbalize what she's trying to say.

Have you tried picture 'cards'? Making up a sheet with moods/feelings (sad, happy, mad etc) and with pictures of food, drinks, bed, toys or other things she may want to communicate and then having it laminated and putting it where she can see it could be helpful. You can ask her to point to what she's trying to communicate.

It could help eliminate some of her frustrations and reduce her biting.

Trying to stop her seems to make her even angrier. I've tried walking away, but she'll follow me around and continue to bite herself.

If the above isn't an option or doesn't work and she's not injuring herself... I would ignore the behavior completely. Let her follow you etc... but as long as shes biting act as if you don't notice her. It doesn't sound like an attention seeking behavior, but ignoring the behavior can help reduce the chances of it turning into an attention seeking behavior by her associating attention (positive or negative) with it.

Good luck.

[jilkens]

Nah, your sense of time isn't messed up. Kids this age mature rapidly.

She doesn't do it every day. About a few times each week.

I don't think picture cards are a good idea at this point. She's becoming very verbal, using over 50 words and making combinations. New ones pop up each day.

Part of the problem is that I'm not catching what she says because it's a new word, and she gets angry that I don't understand her. That's when she'll bite her hands or arms. When she gets going at that it's very hard to stop. I've read that it's normal at this age to do that in response to frustration.

I think I'm going to try taking the camera out next time. She stops tantrums instantly to pose for pictures so maybe it'll stop the biting.