Biting and hitting

Biting and hitting between 12 and 24 months is developmentally common. It's usually driven by frustration, teething discomfort, lack of language, or overstimulation — not aggression. Punishment doesn't help because the child hasn't yet linked action to consequence. Respond immediately, calmly, and briefly: "No biting. Biting hurts." Move the child away from the situation. Tend to the person who was bitten or hit first — this teaches empathy by modeling attention to the victim. Watch for triggers over a week or two — a certain time of day, a specific playmate, hunger, tiredness. Removing the trigger usually solves 80% of it. If it persists past age 3 or seems to escalate, mention it at a well-visit for guidance.