More 18 month old problems

[lobsters]

DD is 18 months, she's recently starting hitting, (usually while shouting "no"). I seem to be the only person she wants to hit, about 50% of the time I have no idea what she is frustrated about. I tell her no hitting and hold my hand up so she can't hit. But I don't know what else to do.

She also hits her toys or cushions, I'm torn as to whether to let her do that to get the frustation out, or try and stop her.

Today she started stamping and my hand was on the floor, so she targetted it (and it really hurt), again i told her no, but she just laughs and carries on. Last night we were playing nicely with her brushing my hair, then she started hitting me hard over the head with a hair brush.

What can I do to get the message to her that this is not acceptable?

I have a 19m old ds (plus 2 older dcs) and I have noticed him hitting things in frustration and also giving his sister a whack every now and then

i've been gently but firmly pulling his hand down and quietly saying 'no' but essentially barely reacting to him as I feel it's an attention seeking thing more than anything...if he hits me i do nothing more than hold his hand down without looking at him at all, so he thinks i'm paying no attention to that behaviour and am just kind of vaguely aware of what he's doing, if that makes sense - even though i'm fully aware of what he's done it does not make me give him any more attention.

sorry that probably doesn't read too clearly, but what i;ve been doing seems to be working and it's not become much of a problem. if he's having a strop and i see hm stamp his foot or whack the closest thing, like the fridge (!) or the sofa then i totally ignore.