DS (21 mo) keeps hitting me in the face - help!!!

[vtiredmummy]

Is this normal? When DS doesn't get his own way he looks at me or his dad and whacks us around the face quite hard. We have tried shouting NO, restraining his hands, shutting him out of the room until he calms, totally ignoring him and nothing seems effective. We won't resort to smacking as believe this will simply reinforce his behaviour, but are desperate to get him to stop.

Is it a phase we have to wait for him to grow out of?

I'm fed up of going out for a coffee and having the disapproving mums look at me and tut when he hits me, because their little darlings sit still and behave like angels

[IndigoMoon]

when ds behaves like this i put him on the floor, tell him no firmly and walk away from him.

he pulled my hair yesterday and i did the same.

ds is 20 months and hard work.

[blueshoes]

vtired, it is a phase. Your ds will grow out of it. Just continue what you are doing ie telling him to stop, holding hands, reminding him to be gentle, putting him down/in another room ... and keep your face out of reach of his little hands!

My dd 4.11 was like this. She grew out of it in a few months.

My ds 23 months is hitting me, pulling my hair, throwing things around when he gets upset - usually because he is not allowed to do what he wants. So you are not alone!

[vtiredmummy]

I will certainly give it a go, thank you.

Maybe I need to avoid public places for a little while...