Hunnypot Corner Day Nursery’s Biting policy 

 

 

Policy statement:

 

At Hunnypot Corner Day Nursery we recognise that biting can be a common behaviour during the early years, particularly among babies and toddlers.

 

Children may bite before they have developed the language, emotional regulation and social skills necessary to communicate their needs appropriately.

 

We understand that biting can be upsetting and painful for the child who has been bitten and distressing for their parents/carers. We also recognise that the child who has bitten requires appropriate support, guidance and understanding.

 

Our approach is to:

 

•  protect children from injury

• respond immediately and calmly to biting incidents

• understand why the biting has occurred

• identify triggers and patterns

• teach children appropriate alternative ways to communicate

• support both the child who has been bitten and the child who has bitten

• work closely with parents/carers

• monitor repeated incidents

• maintain appropriate confidentiality

• never use punishment, humiliation, shaming or retaliatory physical behaviour.

 

Our response will always take account of the child's age, stage of development, communication abilities and individual needs.

 

Why do children bite?:

 

Staff understand that biting can happen for a number of reasons.

 

These may include:

• teething or sore gums

• exploring through the mouth

• frustration

• tiredness

• hunger

• overstimulation

• excitement

• seeking sensory input

• wanting a toy or object

• difficulty sharing or waiting

• difficulty communicating

• limited language

• seeking adult attention

• feeling overwhelmed

• defending personal space

• changes to routine

• unfamiliar environments

• developmental differences or additional needs.

 

Biting should therefore not automatically be viewed as deliberate or malicious behaviour, particularly in babies and younger toddlers.

 

Staff will consider the circumstances surrounding each incident and identify what the child may be communicating through their behaviour.

 

 

If staff see a child about to bite:

 

If a practitioner sees a child attempting to bite another child, they must intervene immediately and calmly.

 

The practitioner should:

 

1. Move close to the children.

2. Safely prevent the bite where possible.

3. Separate the children if necessary.

4. Use a calm, simple statement.

5. Give appropriate attention to the child who may have been hurt.

6. Help the child who attempted to bite communicate what they need.

7. Redirect the child towards an appropriate activity.

 

Appropriate language includes:

 

• ”No Biting"

 

• "Biting hurts."

 

• "Let's use gentle hands."

 

Staff must not shout, threaten, frighten, shame or humiliate the child.

 

 

 

If a child has been bitten:

 

The child who has been bitten must be attended to first.

 

The practitioner should:

 

1. Comfort and reassure the child.

2. Check the affected area.

3. Provide appropriate first aid.

4. If the skin has been broken, clean the area appropriately.

5. Monitor the injury.

6. Seek medical advice where necessary.

7. Inform the Room Leader/Manager where appropriate.

8. Complete the nursery accident/incident record.

9. Inform the child's parent/carer in accordance with the nursery's accident and incident procedures.

 

If the injury is significant, requires medical attention or causes particular concern, parents/carers should be contacted without unnecessary delay.

 

Supporting the child who has bitten:

 

The child who has bitten must be treated calmly and respectfully.

 

For babies and young toddlers, staff should use short, simple language.

 

For example:

 

“No biting” “Biting hurts”

 

The child should then be supported away from the situation if necessary and redirected towards an appropriate activity.

 

Staff will:

• Remain calm and avoid giving the behaviour an excessive emotional reaction.

• Use simple language appropriate to the child's developmental stage.

• Help the child understand that biting hurts.

• Identify and respond to the underlying need where possible.

• Offer an appropriate alternative, such as using words, gestures, asking for help, moving away or choosing another activity.

• Observe whether there are particular triggers or patterns.

• Provide additional support where repeated biting is occurring.

The child will not be described as a "biter". We recognise that a child may display biting behaviour without this defining who they are.

 

Baby room Procedure:

 

The Baby Room requires particularly attentive supervision because many babies are unable to communicate their needs verbally.

 

Staff must be proactive in identifying situations that may lead to biting and supporting children before behaviour escalates.

 

Close Supervision:

 

Baby Room practitioners will maintain close and attentive supervision, particularly during:

 

•  free play

• floor play

• sharing resources

• transitions

• busy periods

• before meals

• periods when children are tired

• periods when children are teething

• situations where a child has recently displayed biting behaviour.

 

Staff should position themselves so they can intervene promptly if they see a child moving towards another child's face, arm or body with the intention of biting.

 

Staff must not rely on babies being able to verbally communicate that another child is upsetting or bothering them.

 

Preventing biting in the baby room:

 

Staff will actively identify and reduce situations that are likely to result in biting.

 

Teething

 

Where appropriate and in accordance with the child's care plan and parental instructions, staff will provide suitable teething resources.

 

Staff should monitor children for signs of discomfort, including:

 

• increased chewing

• excessive dribbling

• irritability

• putting objects in their mouths

• changes in sleep

• changes in feeding.

 

Any concerns should be communicated to parents/carers.

 

Tiredness:

 

Staff will monitor individual sleep cues and follow each child's agreed sleep routine.

 

An overtired baby may become more irritable, frustrated or physically impulsive.

 

Hunger:

 

Staff will follow each child's agreed feeding and meal routine.

 

Changes in appetite or feeding behaviour should be discussed with parents/carers.

 

Overstimulation:

 

If a child becomes overwhelmed by noise, activity or proximity to other children, staff will provide a calmer area and reduce unnecessary stimulation.

 

Toys and Resources:

 

Staff will provide sufficient age-appropriate resources and avoid unnecessary competition for highly desirable toys.

 

Adults will support children with turn-taking rather than expecting babies to understand sharing in the same way as older children.

 

Communication:

 

Staff will use simple words, gestures and visual cues to help children communicate.

 

Examples include:

 

•  "Stop."

•  "Gentle hands."

•  "More."

•  "Help."

• "Finished."

• "My turn."

• "Your turn."

 

Prevention and positive strategies:

Staff will aim to reduce biting by:

• Providing close and appropriate supervision.

• Anticipating situations where biting may occur.

• Supporting children to communicate their needs.

• Teaching and modelling gentle interactions.

• Providing suitable opportunities for sensory and physical play.

• Maintaining predictable routines.

• Supporting children with transitions.

• Ensuring children have appropriate opportunities for rest, food and drinks.

• Helping children develop emotional regulation and social skills.

• Giving children positive attention for appropriate behaviour.

• Providing babies and young children with safe, developmentally appropriate opportunities for oral exploration where appropriate.

The nursery will consider whether environmental changes, additional adult support or changes to routines could reduce recurring incidents.

Repeated biting:

If biting becomes frequent or appears to be increasing, the child's key person and/or room leader will work with the child's parents/carers to identify possible triggers and agree strategies.

This may include:

• Reviewing observations.

• Identifying patterns relating to particular times, activities, people or environments.

• Considering the child's communication and developmental needs.

• Reviewing the child's routine.

• Increasing supervision at identified times.

• Providing additional support with communication and emotional regulation.

• Agreeing consistent responses between home and nursery.

• Seeking advice from appropriate professionals where necessary.

Where there are ongoing concerns about a child's development, wellbeing or safety, the nursery will follow its existing safeguarding and additional-needs procedures.

Communication with parents/carers:

Parents/carers of both the child who has been bitten and the child who has bitten will be informed appropriately.

Information shared will be factual and respectful.

Staff will:

• Explain what happened without assigning blame.

• Avoid discussing confidential information about another child.

• Explain what action was taken.

• Discuss any relevant observations or patterns.

• Explain any first aid provided.

• Work collaboratively with parents/carers where further strategies are required.

Parents/carers will not be given the personal details of another child involved in an incident.

Recording:

All significant biting incidents will be recorded in accordance with the nursery's incident-recording procedures.

Records should include:

• Date and time.

• Location.

• Children involved.

• What was observed.

• What happened immediately before the incident.

• The nature of the injury.

• First aid provided.

• Action taken by staff.

• Any witnesses.

• Parents/carers informed.

• Any follow-up action required.

Records will be factual and objective rather than containing assumptions about a child's intentions.

Repeated incidents will be monitored so that patterns can be identified and appropriate preventative measures introduced.

Confidentiality:

Information about biting incidents will be treated confidentially and shared only with those who need the information to safeguard and support the children involved.

Staff will not discuss individual incidents with other parents or families.

Safeguarding:

Biting will normally be considered as a behaviour requiring an appropriate developmental and behavioural response. However, staff must remain alert to any wider safeguarding concerns.

If an incident, pattern of behaviour, injury or disclosure raises a safeguarding concern, staff must immediately follow the nursery's safeguarding and child protection procedures and inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead where appropriate.

Staff responsibilities:

All staff are responsible for following this policy consistently.

The manager/room leader will:

• Ensure staff understand the policy.

• Monitor repeated incidents.

• Support staff with strategies for individual children.

• Ensure appropriate communication with parents/carers.

• Review records for patterns.

• Ensure safeguarding concerns are escalated appropriately.

Staff should raise concerns with the manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead if they believe a child's biting behaviour is connected to a wider welfare, developmental or safeguarding concern.