I have a 2 and a half year old DS who is adorable, well-behaved and helpful about 90% of the time. However, for the last few months he randomly goes through periods of hitting and/or kicking both me and my husband. It isn't provoked by tiredness, frustration, hunger etc. it just randomly comes out of the blue e.g when I'm kneeling in front of him getting him dressed or putting his shoes on.
I have tried a range of techniques: holding on to his arms while talking firmly to him to stop, saying it's not nice etc; I've implemented a naughty step type system and will leave him to call me while I ignore for 2 mins then go back to him to explain why I was ignoring him and get an apology from him; this morning (not helped by raging hormones as I'm 34 weeks pregnant) I cried at him. He caught me so unawares that I could feel tears starting so went with it and really hammed it up about how hurt and upset I was in the hope he'd see it isn't a game.
Nothing works at the moment. He apologises, says he won't do it again and then immediately claps me round the face, laughing. I'm at my wits end and really want to get this under control. 
Does anyone have any practical suggestions?
TIA
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Why does my toddler want to hit me?
Merlincat07 · 01/01/2014 10:30
All good advice, ds3 (almost 2) has been doing the same for a few months now and I think is just coming out of the phase. It's important to keep telling her no, we use the step too, and we also got him a Ben 10 punchbag for Christmas, which he loved (until his brother burst it). Just remember, child rearing is an endurance test 
. Persevere.
DS is almost 3 and does this. When I ask him why he says 'cause I want to'
I genuinely think he's not doing it out of malice - it really is because he wants to and he can.
Imagine finding out that you can swing your arm or leg at will and connect it with whatever you were aiming for! Magic!
It is a phase (I hope!) and he's doing it less & less.
Thank you so much for all of your replies. Just to hear others are going/have gone through the same has made me feel much better.
I like the suggestion about offering an alternative - I guess sometimes he may just want to hit. And if it's not my face, all the better!
I will also try the short sharp no and move on idea.Perhaps I'm starting to make a bigger deal of it than he can comprehend at the moment.
And to the poster who said this is a test of endurance, dear god isn't that the truth! And I've made the choice to add another one into the mix in about 6 weeks. Who knows what possessed me with that idea!
Thank you everyone - happy new year.
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