smacking

[jo7jojo]

My toddler has started smacking. I have started to use naughty step but not sure it is right for a 22 month old. Any suggestions?

[jo7jojo]

I don't smack him and he has never been smacked by anyone else either

[lallyp]

i just wrote a really long winded response to a silmilar question here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/behaviour_development/1242988-20-mth-old-biting-I-am-losing-all-our-friends

I wouldn't try smacking him though, biting is a bit different.

good luck

[Gilberte]

It's a phase most toddlers go through.

Too early for the naughty step IMO but then I choose not to use the naughty step at all. When my DD started to hit me at about 2.5 yrs old(usually when frustrated/tantrumming because I was trying to take her up to bed/ take her home etc) I just used to say "we don't hit" and remove/hold her hand firmly. One time after a very stressful week and lots of tantrums I'm ashamed to say I shouted "Don't you dare hit mummy" but I never needed to punish. We often role play with dolls that it's not nice to hit and hitting hurts etc and DD does send them to "time out" though we don't use that with her.

The hitting thing disappeared with the tantrums by about 3yrs old.

If your toddler is hitting other children I suggestr you remove him from the "victim", apologise/give attention to the hurt child and keep saying "No hitting" and modelling gentle behaviour yourself.