Hitting/Smacking - what to do?

[Life2012]

My DS is 22 months and he's a sweet lovely boy - his speech is coming along beautifully we think but over the past few weeks he has started hitting/smacking me (mostly) as well as other kids and adults whenever he gets frustrated!

At first I thought "just a phase?" but when he started smacking me for no apparent reason ( even when we are playing/drawing together ) I introduced time out for 1 minute. He stays put and then says sorry and strokes me but 5 minutes later he will be back at it again!

This weekend DH took a diff approach and simply moved him away from us and ignore him for a while but even that doesn't seem to be working very well!

We always use simple commands like " no hitting ! " or " smacking is naughty " but he's not getting it!

Feeling disheartened mostly because he seems to be doing it to me more! He's is in nursery 3 days a week - anyone has any experience? Advice ?

My 18 month old recently went through a biting phase, he thankfully only bit me and dp and I think it was him trying to be affectionate.

I started to say to him "ow! Biting hurts, don't bite mummy. You can kiss mummy but don't bite"

His biting has recently stopped and he now gives kisses, I'm not sure if it's because of what I said to him or if he naturally just grew out of it.

DS is 24 mo and has had a couple if similar stages. We say "no hitting/scratching" etc firmly and move him away or move away ourselves. Obviously this ain't always possible etc when putting him in car seat/I to buggy or anything like that.

Thing is it can take months and months for them to get it. 22mo is still very little.
It's frustrating and annoying but just keep doing it and eventually they will get it but I think it can take aaaaaaaages and then when they get it, they'll start doing something else :)