15mnths - pinching face

[MamaBear17]

My dd is delightful most of the time, but she seems to have developed a bit of a thing for grabbing my face and squeezing very hard. When I tell her no or pull her hands away she screams and cries. Any advice? I can cope with telling her no and pulling her hands away but I am worried she will do it to another baby at nursery.

[DrSeuss]

if she does it, tell her clearly no, put her off your knee if she is on it. Be consistent, it will only confuse if you are not. She may indeed do it at nursery. She may have something similar done to her at nursery but the staff should react appropriately. Small children do bite, pinch etc but the thing is not to allow them to do it.

[Bagofspiders]

My advice would be to completely ignore it. I actually think 15 months is a bit too young to get the no thing, and she may be doing it for the reaction. I would take yourself (or whoever she's doing it to) completely away, just for a few seconds and ignore your dd. making sure you then give her lots of positive attention when she's not doing it.

[Handsfulloffun]

She dosnt know it hurts because she cant feel it, she could well think she is touching your face gently the way you do to her.
With my dc I used to take their hands and gently trace their hands down my face and say "be gentle" then stroke their faces to show them.
She probably will do it at nursery, staff will deal with it but then other children will do it to her too, its completely normal, dont worry.

[ArgumentativeAardvark]

My 15 month old DD does this too, she also does it to other people and other babies though

I just say be gentle, show her how to be gentle, it works for a few minutes and then she carries on with the nipping.

It's very frustrating, I share your pain!

[dappleton]

DS did this at the same age, it was a phase that lasted just a couple of weeks. I just said no and removed his hand then said 'be gentle' and put his hand back on my face gently (kinda the same as other posts have said).

[MamaBear17]

Thanks, I will try the 'gentle' thing. I think the problem is the first time she did it I said 'ouch' and now she pinches me and says 'ouch' too. I think she associates the word the the action. Hopefully I can get her to like saying (and being) gentle instead!!

[MamaBear17]

Thank you for the advice - taking her hand and running it over my face whilst saying 'gentle' is working!