16 month ds old hitting me and dd!! HELP

[Pollux]

My 16 month old DS has taken to hitting me and his 4 month old little sister in the past few days. I've tried my hardest to give lots of attention to him, and I do, and I praise him all the time for being good etc.
I know he is still very young and doesn't realise yet what he is doing is wrong but how do you handle it? Smaking is pointless as it's not teaching him anything. The naughty step he's probably to young for??
Is this normal behaviour at this age? Do I just sit it out for the next few weeks?
TIa

[Scrumpty]

I found that when my ds2 was this age, a godd firm talking-to with lots of eye contact did the trick!
If not, how about putting him in his bedroom for 5 mins to calm down each time he does it, he will then learn to associate his unnaceptable behaviour with being punished, although not too harshly!
Hope this helps!!!

[cocopop]

Sorry I don't have any advice. Just want to sympathise with you and let you know that my ds (17 months)is exactly the same.

He only started hitting a few weeks ago but now he's doing it all the time. He finds it funny if I shout at him and smacking is no good as thats what I'm telling him off for so would probably confuse him. Hope you manage to get some good advice on this thread as I could do with some answers too!

[hex]

My dd2 has started hitting her 5 yr old sister so I susepct it's very common. I was shocked at first (dd1 had had no-one to hit so I hadn't actually come across it before). I say 'no' really firmly and look her in the eye. Of course she forgets and does it again 10 mins later but I'm determined to be persistent on this one. They'll grow out of it I'm sure. I make sure I cuddle dd1 and while doing it, remove eye-contact from dd2 who's doen the hitting. DD2 usually wants to come and cuddle dd1 and kiss her better...hmmmmm...who knows what the best strategy is. I'm sure it'll go away...eventually.

[Pollux]

thanks for the replies

My ds finds it funny too. He got put to his bedroom 4 times today for hitting but it doesn't seem to make any difference to him [holds head in hands and weeps icon]

I guess it is just a case of waiting for him to outgrow it. Just when he outgrows one delinquent trait, another appears

[mariel]

it's certainly what i am experiencing with my 16mth old! but he's my baby - i can't imagine how it must be to have a 4 mth old as well! it's completely normal behaviour imo; my ds terrorises the whole family, i put it down to the fact that he understands a lot but can't vocalise much yet, which must be so frustrating. so yes, if i recall the parenting advice correctly, you should take his hand in yours when he goes to hit, say something like "no, we DON'T hit, that hurts mummy etc", then use his hand to stroke your/dd's face instead and say "gentle, like this". (though by that stage in my house, his big sister has usually retaliated, which is another thread altogether...)
and remember, he's still just a baby himself, although compared to your little one he probably seems such a big boy!
all the very best to you

[mariel]

sorry, just read my earlier post and i didn't mean to sound patronising - am just so used to sticking up for 'the baby' who doesn't know what he's doing/didn't mean to upset your game/draw blood etc...

[biglips]

The only time my DD hits out is when she is tired..if she hits out then she got to say sorry by kiss and cuddle. If she wont do it then its bed for 2 minutes till she apologised.

[Pollux]

That's ok, I didn't find it patronizing

Tbh, I sometimes forget he IS still a baby himself and treat him if he is about 2. He's a big boy as well, weighs 28lb so he looks older than his age. I've got to keep reminding myself he is only 16 months