Is 18 months too young for naughty step or similar?

[otto]

Ds sometimes bites and pinches when he's playing and this is getting worse. He's also started hitting out if I take something away from him or stop him from doing something and I feel it's starting to get a bit out of hand. I used to do time out and say no to whatever it is he's doing and this used to work. But now he either laughs at me or pulls a silly face and says no back at me and then bites or pinches again. Do you think naughty step could work at this age. I'm sure he would understand the concept as he now seems to understand much of what I say to him. Is there anything else I could try?

Definitely remove him from whatever he's doing to somewhere boring, like the bottom stair step. And tell him in a firm but non-shouty voice (say she who screams like a banshee) that he is being unkind and when he decides to say sorry or give you a kiss, he can come back.

At DS's nursery they have a "Naughty chair" for the baby unit and I have seen 18mth olds on it, it's good as they are away from the "fun" and so missing out...( all mindees are 3mths to 2yrs...altho I don't think it's for the 3mth babes!)...I have been wondering at this as DS (also 18mths) is starting to develop some naughty tendencies (pulling my hair...ouch!).....

LOL at a 3 month baby rolling off the naughty chair in hysterics!

I know, re-readng my post makes me as I'm making no sense!

The nursery ds used to go to did "sitting out" - watching the fun, but not joining in. I'm not working now, so have to introduce the concept to dd (18 months) myself. She stays in the room, but sits at the side and isn't allowed to play with toys (or ds) for a couple of minutes. Had absolutely no idea at first and had to be held, but now will stay and glower. Hope it works - she's a whirlwind of destruction, and has also discovered the joys of hair pulling!

Thanks for the replies. Just moving him away no longer works as this is when he starts laughing, pulling faces or rolling around and acting like a loon. I think I'll have to take him out of the room to the stairs or something else to get him to undertand that he can't do it.

What I have done with DD (15 months) so far is take her out of the room and sit her on the hall/landing (depending where we are) with her back to us. She does not like this and knows she is being punished so I guess it works.