20 months old hitting mummy

[popsycal]

Hoping you can offer me some advice.

DS 20 months old. He is a sociable little biy who has always adjusted to his varied routine with ease. I work full time - my mum looks after him on Mon and Tues and he goes to a childminder for the rest of the week. Only my mum, childminder, dh and myself look after him. no babysitters etc.

He has always been very easy going and affection. In the last month, he has had the occasional tantrum but more the 'I am going to lie on the floor and turn myself into a lead weight and not move and laugh whilst in Tesco' kind of tantrum rather than a screaming one. I accept these as part of his normal development and deal with them if and when they happen.

This is my second week off work and I have been looking after him all day by myself. Since we got back from a short stay at DH's parents' house on Saturday, he has taken to hitting me in the face when he has to do something that he doesn't want to. This is such a sudden, out of character change. He isn't just lashing out in temper - he is aiming for my face and hitting repeatedly. I have tried all of the methods that I can think of. I am avoiding the word 'no' like the plague as it is his favourite word at the moment - accompanied by a stern pointing finger!

I don't know where the hitting has come from, since as far as I know, he hasn't seen anyone being hit and no one has ever hit him.

Today has been the last straw in this respect - my tolerance level has been very low today, admittedly, but it is happening regularly and in public.

I accept that at this age that tantrums happen - the advice I need is suggestions of how I can make it clear that hitting mummy is unacceptable. Bearing in mind he is only 20 months old.

Thanks
Popsy

Ooh I missed this one - my dd has started doing this occasionally, or pulling my hair. This morning when I took some chalk away from her as she was merrily drawing on the furniture, she looked furious and then walked around and headbutted me twice on the knee!! Needless to say it hurt her and not me so I don't think she'll be trying that again the little minx

Will def try the ignoring tactic for the hitting/hair pulling though, instead of saying no

My little one is 19 months old and hits out at me (if I am holding her at the time) or if I am not holding her will run and hit the floor or the nearest object if I ask her not to do something. Just recently it was to stop her from climbing on the chair to get onto the table. I was quite worried about it for sometime, but realise now that it is probably just a phase and it will soon pass. I just put her down and say please don't hit mummy that hurts or, if she hits the floor I try to ignore the behaviour as in the past I reacted by saying "don't hit the floor you will hurt yourself", but she then started to come to me to kiss her hand better and would then immediately go back to doing what I had asked her not to do with a cunning look on her face - the little devil .... try not to worry it will pass.