2 year old - biting, hitting and other aggressive behaviour - please help?

[ceebeegeebies]

DS2 (2.3) has become quite aggressive over the last couple of months but not in a malicious way iyswim.

He doesn't hit out and bite when he is annoyed/frustrated/when I have said no about something (he just has petulant tantrums then ) but he does bite and hit when he is in a giddy mood - and it is, more often than not, directed at DS1 (4.7) who, to his credit, doesn't hit/bite back thankfully.

Not sure how to handle it - have tried removing him from the room and sitting him on the stairs until he has calmed down but he just thinks this is a big joke and comes back in saying he is ready to say sorry, says sorry and then starts giggling and does it again and then comes over to me saying 'go on the step now' and cheerfully walks to the stairs

Nursery have never mentioned this behaviour to me so I assume he doesn't do it there and it does just seem to be with his brother (although maybe me and DH pick up on the signs and try and stop him before he gets to that point?).

Any suggestions?

Bump - anyone?

Ok, one pathetic last bump before I go to bed

Talk to the nursery to be sure, although I would hope they would have spoken to you if there was an issue.

2 year old phases for sure. Remove, insist he stays put and no attention for him whilst he is there.

I actually wouldn't bother with the naughty step stuff for things like this - it doesn't sound like wilful disobedience. Our daughter does similar things but it's usually when she's overtired, hungry or bored or often as you describe in the midst of 'giddiness'. She'll be blowing raspberries on my stomach or something and we'll all be giggling furiously, then she'll suddenly bite. Not all biting and hitting is 'aggression'. What I do is just say 'no biting' and stop the game.

On the odd occasion she's really hurt me or DH and has scared herself. Toddlers are frightened if they lose control and it happens more easily if they're tired or hungry. I've always found the best bet is just to calm things down, stress that 'we don't hit' or whatever and do something else.