Hair pulling - how can I discipline my 18 month old?

[sophiebbb]

My 18 month old DS has started pulling the hair of other children. So far they have been children he does not know and who are either the same size or smaller than he is (eg in the park or at a playgroup). I extract him, go down to his level, look him in the eyes and firmly say NO - we do NOT pull hair. I am not sure how much he understands as he just looks away from me and carries on playing (I do pull him back in and repeat what I have said). He has only just started doing this and I want to nip it in the bud now. It is so embarrassing when he makes other children cry.

Does he understand at this age what I am telling him? Should I be doing something else?

So far the above technique hasn't worked because he has done it on 3 separate occasions now.

[sophiebbb]

anyone....?

[biglips]

as he is only 18 months and only done it on 3 seperate occasions, it takes a while for him to grasp of what he is doing wrong....Youre doing fine, carry on

[sophiebbb]

Thank you biglips. Anyone else got any other suggestions or should I persevere with what I am doing already?