DS is almost one and for the past few months he's been squeezing things really hard, he pulps food in his hands by squeezing really hard which isn't of concern but the only other thing he squeezes is necks and it's starting to concern me a little. When he picks up toys with bodies and faces, he goes straight for the neck and squeezes really hard with both hands and makes a straining noise and goes red in the face and has a fierce look in his eye like he's using all his strength. He also does this to peoples necks.
Could this just be his way of being affectionate? Or could there be something wrong with him psychologically? When he does it to me, I've been trying to guide his hand away gently and say 'gently gently' but it doesn't seem to be working! I can't see how he could be copying this squeezing from anywhere, he hasn't really seen any TV and when he's around other people I'm always there too and have never seen anyone do anything that he could be copying.
I wanted to know if anyone other babies do this and if it's normal? This is my first by the way :)
He has to start nursery in a couple months as I have to go back to work but I'm starting to worry he might start squeezing other children's necks and get thrown out.