Daycare Biting Policy Template and Guide

[CENTER NAME] recognizes that biting is a normal, though challenging, behavior among children from approximately 12 months to 3 years of age. Young toddlers bite for a range of reasons that are rooted in their developmental stage, not in malicious intent:

• Oral exploration — infants and young toddlers learn about their world through their mouths
• Limited verbal communication — children who do not yet have words may bite to express frustration, excitement, or a desire to connect
• Teething discomfort — the pressure of biting can temporarily relieve teething pain
• Overwhelm — sensory overload, fatigue, or overstimulation can reduce a toddler's self-control
• Imitation — children may bite after witnessing the behavior in peers or siblings
• Desire for cause and effect — young children are fascinated by reactions

Understanding these causes helps staff respond calmly and strategically rather than punitively. Shame-based or harsh responses do not reduce biting — they increase a child's distress, which can make the behavior worse.

[CENTER NAME] actively works to reduce biting incidents through environmental design and proactive supervision:

• Maintain appropriate staff-to-child ratios so toddlers receive close supervision during high-risk times (mealtimes, transitions, play with coveted toys)
• Ensure adequate toys and materials so children do not have to compete for resources
• Provide appropriate oral stimulation alternatives — teethers, crunchy snacks, chewable jewelry for children who need oral input
• Observe patterns: time of day, specific children involved, locations, and activities that precede biting incidents
• Teach emotional vocabulary and simple sign language ("more," "all done," "mine") to give toddlers alternatives to biting
• Reduce transitions and provide predictable routines, which lower toddler anxiety
• Separate children who have had repeated incidents until the behavior has stabilized

When a biting incident occurs, staff will respond according to this protocol. Speed and calm are both important — the goal is to address the injury, set a clear limit, and support both children without shame or alarm.

1. Attend to the child who was bitten first. Assess the injury immediately. Wash the bite area with soap and water. Apply ice if there is swelling. If the skin is broken, follow the center's bloodborne pathogen procedures: wear gloves, cleanse the wound thoroughly, apply antibiotic ointment if permitted under your medication policy, and cover with a bandage. If the bite causes significant swelling, bleeding that does not stop, or signs of infection, seek medical attention and notify the director.
2. Address the child who bit — briefly and calmly. Use simple, firm language: "Biting hurts. We don't bite people." Keep it short — toddlers cannot process lengthy explanations. Do not yell, shame, or isolate the child in a frightening way. Redirect the child to a new activity immediately after setting the limit.
3. Ensure both children are supervised. Do not leave either child unattended. A second staff member should assist if available so each child receives appropriate attention.
4. Document the incident. Complete an incident report for the bitten child within 24 hours. Record: time, location, children involved (by classroom code if required for privacy), circumstances, description of injury, first aid administered, and staff present.
5. Notify both families before end of day. The family of the child who was bitten must be notified the same day and shown the injury at pickup. The family of the child who bit must also be notified. Per privacy requirements, do not disclose the name of the other child to either family.

[CENTER NAME] will notify both families involved in a biting incident on the day it occurs:

• Bitten child's family: Shown the injury at pickup, given a copy of the incident report, and informed of first aid administered. If the skin was broken, parents will be advised to consult their pediatrician about any further care or monitoring for infection.
• Biting child's family: Notified that their child bit another child, the context in which it occurred, and the steps the center took. Families will be asked to discuss the behavior at home in age-appropriate terms and to collaborate with the center on prevention strategies.
• Privacy: Neither family will be told the name of the other child involved. [CENTER NAME] does not disclose identifying information about one enrolled child to another family.

Each biting incident is documented on an incident report form that includes:

• Date, time, and location of the incident
• Description of the circumstances (what preceded the bite)
• Body part affected and description of injury
• First aid administered
• Staff present
• Time and method of parent notification
• Parent response

Incident reports are retained in the child's file and reviewed periodically by the director to identify patterns. Patterns of biting by a single child trigger the Chronic Biting Action Plan below.

While most toddler biting resolves with consistent redirection and language development, [CENTER NAME] will recommend a consultation with the child's pediatrician or a developmental specialist when:

• The child is older than 3 years and biting continues despite sustained intervention
• Biting is accompanied by other concerning behaviors such as significant aggression, self-injury, or extreme difficulty with transitions
• The family reports similar behaviors at home that are not improving
• Sensory processing difficulties are suspected (e.g., the child seeks oral input in multiple settings, is tactile-defensive, or is unusually sensitive to noise or light)

[CENTER NAME] may provide families with a referral to early intervention services, which are available in all states for children under age 3 at no cost to the family.

A child is considered a chronic biter if they bite three or more times in a two-week period despite standard interventions. In this case, [CENTER NAME] will implement the following escalation steps:

1. Step 1: Director-led parent conference within 48 hours to review documented incidents, identify triggers, and agree on a joint strategy. A written plan is created and signed by the family and director.
2. Step 2: Increased one-on-one supervision of the child during identified high-risk times (transitions, free play, mealtimes). Staffing adjustments will be made as resources allow.
3. Step 3: Referral to early intervention or a developmental pediatrician if the behavior continues after two weeks of the joint plan.
4. Step 4: If biting continues to cause injury to other children and all interventions have been exhausted and documented, the director may discuss a temporary leave of absence or modified enrollment to allow additional behavioral support to be established. Disenrollment is a last resort and is never the first response to biting.