I need advice please... my ds 16 months has turned into a happy slapper!!

[luckyleelj]

Can anyone give me some advice, pointers, or can relate to this please...
My ds is 16 months old, goes to nursery two afternoons per week and has been doing so since he was 7 months.
But all of a suddon over the last month he has started hitting me and I've just found out from nursery that he is also slapping other children. Most of the time it's for no reason whatsoever...
I've just come back form a morning at gym totts where he went round slapping nearlly every child!!!
I say no in a stern voice and make him say sorry by giving a hug back, but I just find it really embarressing and other moms looking at me like I cant controll my son.
can someone please give me any suggestions on how to tackel this phase?

[glaskham]

if you keep telling him no then he will soon realise its not a game.....they go through these stages- and every other parent will go through the same thing so you can give them funny looks back!! keeping him awayfrom other children will only make it worse next tiem he's with other children....he needs to be doing it to be told off to start to understand....if that makes sence.

[luckyleelj]

... thank you that does make sence.. I can only keep doing what I'm doing I guess, just dont know where he's picked this up from.....
Your right he does see it like a game as it's so random,no malace in it just general slapping here there and everywere!!

[yorkiemom]

I'm pretty sure this is just a stage your ds is goint through. You just keep on with what you are doing, telling him "no".He will hopefully soon get the message that this is'nt a good game!!!
As for the smug perfect mothers, with the perfect little angels, there time will come !!!!!!! - every child has a dark side !!!!!!!

[luckyleelj]

wink Thank you yorkiemom, I'm hoping this is a stage and not the sign of things to come!! dont think I could handle and more slaping, copped one in the eye this morning and it's still weeping now!!