DS (8 months) is just too rough - stressing me out

[kittypower]

DS is a great little boy and is very very active, he is always on the move and doesn't sit still for more than about 30 seconds. He crawls everywhere and is into everything. The problem is that he is really rough, he pulls my face, neck hair clothes etc the whole time, which I don't really mind about but he is now very rough with other babies he meets. While all my friends babies are gently touching each others faces and playing with toys together, my ds is trying to grab their hair and pull it really hard or pull their clothes off or kiss/bite their faces. I am now finding it kind of embarrassing and I'm worried that it is going to get to the point where they don't want their babies playing with him. What can I do? Or does anyone else have a baby like this?

[Hoonette]

I have exactly the same problem. DS is nearly one now and has been very rough for some months. I am starting to worry that other mums dread it when they see us - oh, no, it's that baby who beats everyone up!

I am trying to teach him to be gentle, and actually seem to be having some success lately. Telling him 'NO!' when he bites me, and praising him loads when he manages to touch me without it hurting...

[lackaDAISYcal]

My DD can be a bit rough and is a natural born extrovert as well. I just keep taking her hand away and saying "NO" very firmly. She is now 10.5 months and the message is slowly sinking in. You just need to be consistent; if he thinks it's OK to do this to you, then he'll think it OK to do it to other babies and people he meets.

I'm sure he wont be cast out of the tots' group for it though

[Meandmyjoe]

Oh my ds is 8 months and is EXACTLY the same! People at the stay and play group find it funny and laugh but I'm not sure what they say behind our backs! I try and say 'no' then distract him with a toy or something. There's not really much else I can do wth an 8 month old. I'm hoping it gets better when he is able to communicate a bit better and understands a bit more.

[Pitchounette]

Message withdrawn

[kittypower]

Thanks will give these a try - it is just so tiring when all the other babies sit nicely and play together and my DS crawls into the middle and causes total mayhem in about 2 seconds!