Being hit by my one year old!!

[Lenders42]

Hi all

I have a 16 month old daughter. She's fantastic but has started trying to hit and bite when she doesn't get her own way! This might include things like having to get back in the car after a walk (or the buggy); not being allowed to play with dangerous items or generally being told no. Not sure what to do. She's not exactly having a tantrum when she does this but seems intent on causing some pain to make the point clear that she's unhappy! Do I ignore this? At only one yr old I'm not sure she's ready for the naughty step or other similar forms of punishment. I usually just say "no hitting" in a stern voice but this has zero effect! Any suggestions?? Will she maybe just grow out of it?

Tell her firmly NO and if she persists ignore her (hard as it is I know ) until she has calmed down. Then explain to her what she did wrong and how she can avoid doing such things.

Hope this helps x

I would catch the hand that was trying to hit me and quite seriously say "no hitting"

The biting is a hard one. I did the same, "no biting" and when taken by surprise once (by a bite from my son) I burst into tears, it was such a shock. He looked quite chastened and didn't do it ever again. But I don't think you can fake this one. Has to be real.

Just tell her no and do whatever you can in the situation to display your displeasure. If I was carrying ds1 I'd put him on the floor and walk off after he'd done something like that. It feels like it takes forever but it does work. Ds1 is now 4 and only hits/kicks us on rare occasions and when he's tired and never hurts others , and he certainly never bites.

Our son did the hitting at about the same age, first when over-excited by cuddles and then actively trying to hurt when he didn't get his way. Putting him in the 'thinking corner', ignoring him, saying "no!", asking for an apology / cuddle did nothing - and he'd often put himself through the sitting / apology part and then deck me again! What did work was holding him firmly and saying 'you can have your arms back when you don't use them to hit', then letting him go when he calmed down. Hate to say it, but I think it worked because he hated it - and it helped me to control my own anger at being hit repeatedly to be holding him and safe from further assault! Can't recall how long the stage lasted, but it was miserable and then it was over. Think as his language came on he was much less frustrated in general. Good luck getting through it.

Cheers. Will be trying all of these suggestions! I'm sure it will pass eventually!

It will pass! My DS (2) has gone through the phase on and off - funnily enough he only hits me, not DH. We say a firm 'NO' and insist on an apology and cuddle. Obviously he can talk so the apology bit might not work for a 1yr old. But just keep repeating no and being firm til they get the message that it's totally unacceptable.