13 month old boy hits otherers, is this a phase?

[AnnamariaHun]

i started to develop a complex about him as every time we go to playgroups or see friends, he ends up hitting other babies or even older kids. he sometimes does it out of excitment/happiness but he also started hitting people/kids when he is frustrated.
I understand that he can't express himself as much as older kids but i don't see any other same aged kids do the same.
is this normal and going to pass or is this something i should worry about???

PS i always tell him off when he does do this but at the same time i don't want him to develop issues due to me constantly following him everywhere and holding his hands just in case he meets another baby and decides to hit them in the face

Any advice would be appreciated

Hi Anna, can't offer any constructive advice I'm afraid, but I can sympathise. My DS went through the same (at about 15 months), and we couldn't work out where it came from. It was usually if someone said 'No', or if someone tried to kiss him, but often if he was frustrated too.

We did the hand-holding thing, and also mini-time-outs, to show we were really cross with the behaviour. All in, it lasted about 4-6 weeks (with a slight relapse when FIL taught him how to use a fly swat...) but he did grow out of it (he's 19m now).

Am sure it will pass, but you have my sympathy - it makes it hard to be round other mums sometimes, doesn't it? Hope this helps.

HobnobHeaven thanks that's kind of what i wanted to hear as long as i know that there are other kids out there doing or did the same, i don't feel that bad and it gives me strenght to carry on with my (maybe silly) hand holding educational walks :)

Don't feel silly - just wait till he's old enough to find parts of himself he shouldn't play with in public, or discovers lego fits up other people's noses. We've got it all to come! Just chalk it up as fodder to shame him with when he's 18