To ask how you stop a toddler hitting

[32flavours]

It's relentless at the moment, probably made worse by the arrival of his sister and being stuck at home all of the time. My dp is usually the target, he slaps, pinches pulls hair. Sometimes it just comes out of nowhere, we can be having a nice time doing an activity and he just lashes out. We've tried time outs which have zero impact. Today I've been confiscating favourite toys each time he hits, which seems to have made him lash out more. I suspect he's testing to see if I'll stick with it, which I am.

Is there something else i could be doing?When he's calmed down we explain why its wrong to hit, that it hurts and makes the other person sad. I don't know how much he understands really. Thankfully he doesnt hit other children and nursery have said he's really gentle. I just dont know why he's acting out so much at home. Is this normal at his age? He's 2.5. Thanks

We used to stand our DS aside. Get down to his level & say very calmly.
“We don’t hit. Hitting hurts. No one will play with you if you hit them.”
We’d then ignore him for a couple
Of minutes & make a fuss out of someone else (even if it was the dog). Then, I think we either invited him back to play/he rejoined on his own. We’d move on & not mention anything unless he hit again. Then we’d repeat.
He started lashing out around the time his brother arrived & we tried so many things. The above was what we found worked though. It didn’t take that long for him to work out it wouldn’t get him any attention.

Good luck op. It’s rough, but my angry, frustrated little guy Grew out of it & he’s a really lovely (if slightly over sensitive) kid now.