SIL's 17mo keeps scratching my 8mo's face! What can we do?

[oysterpots]

He's always very excited to see my DS but every time we meet up DS comes away with a few scratches on his cheeks, nose etc. Cousin also goes for DS's eyes and makes him cry at least once per visit

SIL shouts at her DS, slaps him on the hand, pulls him away, but nothing seems to work. It's getting to the stage where I don't really want to take him round as there's only so many times I can sit there and say 'it's fine' through gritted teeth while comforting my screaming baby! Plus I can't stand seeing her smack her baby's little hand (am not a smacking type...).

Any suggestions as to how to stop him from doing it? I don't want to keep them apart as they seem to really like each other except for this, and obviously they are family so it couldn't really be a long term option. Apparently it's not just my DS he does this with - SIL says that he's always going for the faces of her friends' babies who are the same age.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Do we just have to wait for him to grow out of it? Do they sell baby Hannibal Lector-style masks for DS to wear?

[WigWamBam]

Shouting and slapping won't help. He doesn't realise what he's doing, he certainly doesn't know that it hurts.

Remove him. Distract him. Keep his nails short.

[posieflump]

it might just be for attention
agree keep his nails short and maybe try and ignore or just remove him and cuddle him
it is a phase so will pass

[Sassil]

Its awful when this happens, i am on the other side of the fence, my DD is the one doing the scratching to her cousin (2.7yrs) and other children. She is 21 months. I have tried everything to get her to stop and am at the end of my tether.
I'm sure your SIL is very embarassed as i am.
Hopefully they will grow out of it in time.

Def keep the nails short, that seems to be helping us as cousin doesn't get hurt as much.

very embarassed mum am i

[Elasticwoman]

Put gloves or mittens on the toddler.

[Sassil]

my DD never keeps gloves or mittens on, we've tried that too

[magnolia74]

My ds1 is like this too (16 months) Its babies and small toddlers, anyone too big and he doesn't do it.
Just have to stick to him like glue and get to him each and every time before it happens if possible.
I am hoping its a very short phase