trying to pull her sisters head off!

[misdee]

my dd1 ( 3 1/2)has recently become a nightmare. i found her this morning trying to pull her sisters (11months) head off. she thumps her on the back, and fair enough dd2 can fight back reasonably well, she grabbed a fistful of her sisters hair the other day in retaliation. i told them both off, put dd1 in her room and dd2 in her cot for a little while. but it was the way this morning dd2 was convinced her sisters head would come off if she pulled hard enough. its scary. anyone got any ideas on what i can do?

[misdee]

she is now insisting dd2 is a horse. i think maybe she forgets that dd2 is still only a baby.

[SofiaAmes]

misdee, I don't think you should worry from a developmental point of view. 3.5 is too young to really understand the limitations of a baby's body. My ds (2.5) spent quite a while this afternoon very determinedly trying to stuff dd's (11 mo.) dummy in her mouth today despite the fact that she hasn't been using a dummy for some months now.
For the most part ds is very lovng with dd, but sometimes he just doesn't understand that she isn't as big/strong as he is. I am very careful about leaving the two of them together alone. I certainly make sure I am in earshot if I do.

[misdee]

haha i know what u mean about the dummy. my dd1 will insist that dd2 has to have a dummy altho she gave it up about 5months ago now. today she was insisting that dd2 was a horsey. very funny to watch tho dd2 got annpyed and pulled dd1 hair again.

[aloha]

Can I just say that I really don't think your 11month old was grabbing hair in retaliation. That's a pretty sophisticated concept for a baby! IMO babies just are attracted to this interesting hairy substance. They cannot understand that pulling it would hurt, honest.