18 mo hitting

[starodyssey2015]

I honestly do have a godsend of a child. He's well behaved, smiley, sleeps for hours and he's so clever and wonderful and I love him so much. But recently he's taken onto hitting. I know he doesn't mean it with malice but I'm lost of what to do because I have never had to dicipline him before.

I've shouted NO at him and he just laughs, I put him on the floor and he just toddled off, unaware he's done nothing wrong. And I've put my hand on his and stroked where he has hit me and said aww. But it's still continuing - advice please?

[Sgtmajormummy]

I think it's pretty normal working out what is and isn't part of him or an inanimate object.
My Dd (now the most non-violent 9yo you could meet) had a thing like "I love you so much I want to squeeze you to death" until she was about 3 which went as far as hurting people and that just isn't acceptable, so we had a little sway chant:
"No pinching, no punching, no biting, no thumping....no jumping!" "Yes jumping!" "Alright, yes jumping." she still remembers it today.

Hope someone with a bit more practical advice comes along.

[ChunkyPickle]

Mine is at the same stage (coupled with a very possessive phase too) - I'm just grateful he's forgotten about his previous method of dissuading his brother from touching his things which was biting!

I seem to remember DS1 going through it too, you just keep on telling them no and moving them away, they keep finding it funny when they hurt you (and stroking it better just enough to keep in your good books), and eventually they grow out of it.

Mine's adorable too - I love this age, almost everything they do is cute.