Mom’s “biting pandemic” clip shows a common toddler phase—experts share how to handle it

What do croissants, pizza… and a nursery school classmate in common? To Molly-Mae Hague’s two-year-old, Bambi, they’re all fair game for biting.

That now-viral TikTok of Molly-Mae, with over 2.5 million views, coaching her two-year-old — “teeth are for food, not friends” — quickly snowballed into memes about a “biting pandemic” at nursery school. Commenters had a field day, joking about Bambi keeping a “bite list” or following in her dad Tommy Fury’s boxing footsteps.

But while the internet laughs, parents everywhere sighed in recognition. Biting isn’t a Fury family quirk—it’s a very normal toddler phase.

What’s happening in the video

The clip opens with Molly-Mae talking to Bambi and the toddler casually drops, “I’m gonna bite someone.” Cue a mix of giggles, disbelief, and the internet losing its mind.

Molly-Mae then tries to redirect, gently reminding Bambi that teeth are for eating, not biting classmates: “We bite pizza… not Emily.” Bambi, unbothered, starts brainstorming other “victims,” and the internet erupted with memes imagining a “burn book” of little ones to bite. 

Comments ranged from playful jabs about Bambi’s family boxing roots to clever references to the “biting pandemic” sweeping her nursery school:

• 🎩: “Bambi naming her victims is frying me”
• Sarah Jenkins: “There’s a biting epidemic at nursery 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂”
• Anjali: “I’m howling at how the whole internet knows this nursery’s biting scandal 😭“
• Dianaalues: “The victims are shaking 😂😂😂”

Clearly, the internet found this tiny toddler both adorable and mischievous—and couldn’t stop laughing.

Why biting happens in toddlerhood

For children between one and three, biting is surprisingly common. Developmental researchers note that it often appears when toddlers are still learning to express frustration, meet sensory needs, or manage overstimulation.

In group settings like nurseries, the habit can spread quickly. When one child bites, others may imitate the behavior, which staff often describe as a wave of copycat incidents. Teachers usually address it right away—redirecting calmly and offering alternatives—since delayed punishments later in the day don’t connect to toddlers.

Another factor is pure toddler curiosity. At this age, children test boundaries with their whole bodies—pushing, grabbing, and yes, sometimes biting—to see what happens next.

It’s less about malice and more about cause-and-effect learning: What does my friend do if I chomp? What does Mum do? This doesn’t make it pleasant for parents or nursery school staff, but it does explain why the “biting phase” tends to flare up suddenly and then taper off just as quickly.

Related: Aggression in toddlers: 5 common reasons for hitting + biting

A toolkit for parents

Biting toddlers might be chaotic, but there are ways to survive—and even laugh a little—through the phase.

• Keep language simple and neutral: Phrases like “teeth are for food” land better than any long lecture. Short, calm reminders work wonders.
• Redirect immediately: Offer a chewy toy, a crunchy snack, or something safe to sink those tiny teeth into. Bambi-approved alternatives: pizza, croissants… just not classmates.
• Repair and model empathy: Encourage a quick check-in with the child who was bitten. Even a simple “let’s help your classmate feel better” teaches empathy and social skills.
• Shadow in hotspots: Transitions, group play, or end-of-day crankiness are prime biting zones. Being nearby lets you step in before a chomp happens.
• Coordinate with staff: Consistency between home and nursery school speeds up progress. When everyone’s on the same page, biting incidents tend to shrink faster than a toddler’s attention span.

With a little preparation, patience, and humor, parents can ride out the phase without drama (and maybe even gather a few viral-worthy stories of their own).

Related: What to do when a child bites: 7 tips from a Montessori teacher

The long game: fewer bites, more snacks

The good news? The biting phase passes. Most kids naturally outgrow it, with progress showing up in fewer incidents and gentler chomps—not an overnight cure.

So if your child has ever treated nursery school like an all-you-can-bite buffet, you’re in good company. The memes may fade, but the real takeaway is simple: biting is a phase, not a personality trait. And thankfully, pizza and croissants remain the better targets.

Sources:

1. NAEYC. “Understanding and Responding to Children Who Bite”
2. ZERO TO THREE. 2025.  “Toddler Biting: Finding the Right Response”