Simple Ways to Stop Your Child Spitting

Child spitting is unpleasant, unhygienic, and an effective way to get a big reaction from an adult.

While it’s comparatively common behaviour, especially in younger children, it can be hugely embarrassing as a parent and something you’ll want your child to stop as quickly as possible.

Why do young children spit?

Spitting is a sensory experience for very young children. It feels strange, and they enjoy experimenting to learn what their body can do. This sort of experimentation is about sensory exploration rather than emotions.

However, they can also use spitting as a way to tell you something is wrong. Young children find it difficult to communicate their needs and wants because their language skills haven’t fully developed.

They may spit to express powerful emotions like frustration and anger, or to get your attention.

Younger children can also use spitting as a form of self-defence. For example, it’s a way to keep another child from taking a toy they’re playing with, or to make a sibling move away from them.

They may spit if they feel trapped by an adult in the corner of a room, or if they’re being held to keep them safe, and can’t escape.