Key Points
- Apply a safe substance to the cot rail to deter your child from biting the cot
- Supply your baby with teething toys and other safe things to chew on
- Install silicone guards and cover crib rails to protect your baby’s mouth and avoid choking hazards and injuries
Itchy gums and curiosity are two of the reasons you’ll find your little one chewing on almost anything they encounter. In most cases, the cot will be the first target. While standard for most babies, this behaviour is concerning because of the possibility of choking, ingesting harmful chemicals or cot materials, or injury. So, how do you stop your baby from chewing on their cot?
In This Article
- How Can You Stop Your Baby Chewing Their Cot?
- Why Do Babies Bite Their Cots?
- What Are The Risks Of Babies Biting Their Cots?
- How To Respond To Biting Behaviour When You See Your Baby Biting The Cot?
- Why Do Toddlers Bite The Cot?
How Can You Stop Your Baby Chewing Their Cot?
We have detailed 7 of the most important things you need to know to help prevent your baby from biting their baby’s crib and cot below:
Apply A Bitter-Tasting Solution
Applying something that doesn’t taste good is an effective deterrent from biting the top rail of the cot. Fewer babies chew their crib railing if it tastes bad.
You want something with a bad taste that won’t harm your baby. A popular option is to mix water with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Then, apply this to the cot using cotton swabs. Avoid using products that are intended to reduce thumb-sucking in older children. Although they taste terrible, they have not been tested for safety in infants.
Monitor Signs Of Teething
Teething children are more likely to bite, so if you notice any signs of teething, you might anticipate the baby to start chewing. When you see swollen gums or their first teeth coming through, get the toys and swab the lemon juice or vinegar solution along the crib rails ahead of time.
Buy Teething Toys
There’s a massive selection of teething rings and toys specifically for babies chewing, made to satisfy those itchy little gums. Give them a selection of different textures to chew on; this should keep their chompers off the cot.
Finding a teether your baby likes might take a few different tries. But it’s better than your baby chewing on the rails.
Give Them Something Else to Chew
Teething toys are not the only option. After all, not everyone wants to go out and spend lots of money on teethers that will most likely get rejected. Let babies chew on cool or frozen items to calm their sore gums. A great option is freezing breastmilk to make baby-safe lollies. Frozen carrots and bananas are other frozen treats and also good alternatives that are safe to let babies chew.
Lower Their Cot Mattress
Lowering their cot mattress means they can’t reach the bed railing to chew on it. This a quick and easy solution to get your baby to stop biting the crib rails, as babies chew on things they can reach.
Install Silicone Guards
Prevention is a must, so you can install silicone guards on the crib rails. These are designed to stop your baby from damaging the cot or the wooden crib railing before they even get the chance to bite it. The soft texture of silicone is safe for babies to chew on, prevents splintering, and prevents your baby from getting hurt. Check the product label to ensure the silicone is “food grade” and safe for your baby’s mouth.
Install Fabric Crib Rail Covers
Crib rail covers are also a brilliant preventative measure for babies biting the cot. You can buy them or make them yourself. These should only cover the cot rail and not extend into the cot. Ensure you:
- Use enough ties on the cover to keep it securely on the cot railing. Your baby should not be able to pull the fabric off
- Keep the knots secure and firmly away from the outside of the cot
- Use narrow strips of fabric to prevent an asphyxiation hazard
- Keep the vertical slats free of obstructions
Why Do Babies Bite Their Cots?
Understanding why your baby is biting or chewing on the crib or cot will help you solve the problem faster. A few of the reasons why they might be biting the cot are detailed below:
They’re Teething
The main reason for bite marks on a cot is a teething baby. It’s uncomfortable and often painful for your baby, so they’ll chew on almost anything to relieve them from their sore gums.
They’re Bored
Never underestimate what someone will do when they’re bored, babies included. Keeping your baby entertained is excellent for their cognitive and motor skills development, but it could also be the thing that saves your furniture from bite marks.
They Want Attention
A baby might resort to chewing on the side of their cot if their crying and fussing aren’t getting them the attention they desire.
They’re Discovering New Things
Babies use their mouths for sensory exploration. While adults use their hands to learn about things, babies try to understand things by putting them in their mouths.
What Are The Risks Of Babies Biting Their Cots?
The risks of your baby chewing and biting the cot are concerning and could be very hazardous. Here are some risks you should keep an eye on:
Choking on Small Fragments
When those little teeth pull small pieces of wood or plastic off the cot, choking hazards become a real risk. Check the cot for any signs of damage if your baby has started to bite the cot. Fix any threats immediately; if the cot cannot be fixed, replace it. This is also true of any silicone crib railings or guards that you may use. It is time to replace them if they have begun to crack.
Developing Mouth Injuries
With all the biting and putting things in their mouths, some items may cause injury. Wood can splinter and cut the inside of your baby’s mouth. Pay close attention to their teeth and oral hygiene to check for any signs of irritation or injury. It is important to prevent such areas from developing into infections.
Ingesting Lead Paint
Manufacturers have come a long way with minimising products using lead-based paints, especially baby furniture. But a few older or antique wooden cots may still have lead paint. When ingested, this is highly poisonous to the developing brain, and paint chips are also a choking hazard.
Check the cot or cribs manufacturer’s label to determine if it is free from lead paint and made of non-toxic materials before you purchase it. You can also buy lead testing kits to check the paint on your baby’s cot.
Ingesting Wood
Wood splinters could be swallowed and cause painful gastrointestinal issues such as getting stuck in the oesophagus. Signs of this include vomiting or having difficulty feeding. Your baby will need emergency room care if you think they’ve ingested wood from their cot. In addition, there’s a high chance your baby could choke on the wood chips.
Having An Allergic Reaction
There are many allergens around us, such as latex, dust, fibreglass, etc. Your baby can develop a reaction to the stain or paint used on the cot. The severity of allergies may differ from mild itching and swelling to anaphylaxis. Your baby might need to go to hospital if they ingest something they’re allergic to.
How To Respond To Biting Behaviour When You See Your Baby Biting The Cot?
There’s no point in shouting at your baby if you see them biting the cot, as this will likely just cause them fear and upset. Instead, the best thing to do is get down to their level, look them in the eye, and firmly say “No”.
After this, hand them one of their teething toys and encourage them to use this rather than the side of their cot. It’s a good idea to stick around and monitor for a while after, if possible, as you’ll be able to intervene should they start biting the cot again.
As with most things you try to teach your baby, consistency is key with this, and they’ll soon understand that their behaviour is unacceptable. It can be tempting to remove them from their cot, but this may result in them learning that biting is a surefire way to get out of bedtime!
Why Do Toddlers Bite The Cot?
As soon as your baby has passed two years old and entered the toddler stage, they should be finished with any major teething. However, there could be underlying issues causing them to continue the habit if they continue chewing on their crib or cot past this age. A few things to consider are detailed below:
- They Have AnxietyBaby chewing on random things could quickly become a coping mechanism for those who struggle with separation anxiety.
- Lack Of StimulationThis isn’t to say you aren’t providing any stimulation for your child, but every child is different, and some need more stimulation than others. Toddlers who still bite and chew the cot need some extra physical stimulation.
Crib chewing could be an early sign of Pica for some toddlers, which often indicates iron deficiency anaemia. So, don’t dismiss their crib chewing as bad behaviour if your child continues to do it.
Final Thoughts On How To Stop Baby Biting Cot
There are many reasons your baby or child chews on things they shouldn’t, namely their cot. But you can also do many things to prevent and stop them from doing this. It is better to stop this habit and provide them with other safer options to chew on to prevent choking, injuries and unintentional ingestions from chewing and biting the cot.