A most odd new development in 14 mo....please advise!

[Multifacetediguana]

My 14 mo has just started this weekend behaving wiredly when unfamiliar people talk to him. We were at a christening yesterday and when my friend came up to say hello to him, ds slapped me in the face!! He kept on doing it every time someone new came to speak to him, then did it again today when we saw another friend at a farm and then some family friends at my parents' house. What is this and why is he doing it? He has never hit before. What do I do??

*Weirdly!

I'm wondering if this is a 14m thing? dgd (15 months tomorrow) has been doing exactly this for the last 10 days. She smiles sweetly at you then bats you round the face. Oddly enough, it doesn't come across as aggressive but more like a form of greeting! She does, in fairness also kiss you hello so we've been making lots of the kissing and no praise at all for the whacking!

I imagine he's anxious & his anxiety comes out as aggression. You've got to teach him to deal with his feelings in another way. Firmly say no to the hitting -- at least you know exactly what triggers it & can grab his arm or leg before he has a chance to strike. And talk to him about why it's not the right way to deal with over-excitement or nerves about other people (in an age appropriate way, "Don't be afraid of Ann, she's just saying hello!" statements . Maybe he needs to interact more with new people to learn he can do it & doesn't need to act out. "Here's is Ann, see? she is okay, she won't hurt you." statements.

Anxious? Obviously I cant speak for the OP's ds but I can honestly say that my dgd hasn't got an anxious bone in her body. If anything, she's over-confident! She also has constant interaction with adults and children of all ages so I doubt very much that nerves come into it. Instead, I suspect she has reached an age where it is interesting to test reactions as well as her increased co-ordination. Interestingly, the slapping has arrived at precisely the same time as her climbing skills and it looks like one of those developmental leaps that have to be tested out.

So we say, firmly, "No, we don't smack people" and put a serious face on while we speak. We then reward her with smiles and praise for greeting people more appropriately.

My 12 month old does this, but for him it is showing his approval. He whacks something, the harder the more he likes it.

Yes or it is a form of greeting, just not always aimed at the person/object he is greeting!

Relax, it will pass.

Yup. Dd had this at about 15 months. It was wearing but passed. We are in the pushing and pinching phase now. Its not nice!