How to deal with smacking, pinching etc in 23mo

[DillyTante]

DD2 is going through a phase (god I hope it's a phase!) of pinching and smacking, mostly directed at her 5 yo sister who doesn't really get out of the way.

Not sure how to handle it as she doesn't really understand consequences. I try putting her on the step (not a naughty step as such, I don't make her stay there) or her cot. I have no idea how else to show her it's wrong besides raising my voice (which I also do . Never had it with DD1 so not really sure what to do, but DD1 is getting the brunt of it so it has to stop. Any advice?

I would tell her "No" very assertively and remove her from the situation. I think 23 months is too young for naughty step type thing.

I agree with Choufleur, under 2yo is too young for discipline, it doesn't mean anything to them imo (or it wouldn't have with DD, some children may be different). I went through similar with DD at around that age and all you can do it keep telling them no, that's not nice, we don't hit/pinch/whatever. And move them away if they keep doing it. It doesn't really sink in at that age but you just keep doing it until they grow out of it.

Thanks. I'm just so used to dd1 understanding everything and dd2 is so articulate I forget she is still just a baby. I get cross at her for not doing as she is told :(

Don't feel bad, it's a difficult age. DD is my first but even I have to remind myself sometimes how little she still is. When their language is taking off and they seem to understand everything, it's easy to forget that they're still not much more than babies really.

Do you know why she hits or pinches ie are there any particular triggers? I found the naughty step worked well for DD at that age when she had got herself worked into a bit of a tizz, so the timeout gave her a chance to calm down rather than as a punishment as such. It didn't work when she was testing boundaries or attention seeking (IYSWIM)

Just attention seeking or something. Not in anger or anything I don't think.