Babies explore much of their world with their mouths. Tasting, testing. What's hard? What's soft? Does it taste good? Then, of course, comes teething time, during which it seems like your baby is biting anything and everything within her reach.

But what happens when biting goes a step too far? What do you do when you find yourself – or others – on the receiving end of a few too many sharp nips?

While learning by putting things in their mouths starts very early in life, actual biting doesn't generally take place until about 6 months of age.

Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician in Austin, Texas, mother of two and co-author of Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby's First Year (Windsor Peak, 2006), says babies start to bite when they grow teeth. "At first it is novel to bite to see how those teeth work," she says. "It can also be a strategy to soothe those pounding gums by gnawing on something."

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.