My lovely, lively, happy ds who will be 2 in a couple weeks has started hitting. At first I thought it was a phase so didn't pay too much attention to it, just told him to stop and that it was naughty. Then when it didn't stop we tried time out and that no longer isn't working for hitting. I've never hit him and he doesn't go to nursery so no idea where it's come from but he does it with the full intent to hurt. He will aim straight for the face and if he doesn't get a good clean swipe he will continue until he does, sometimes even using objects.
He will do it out of nowhere, we can be happily playing together and he will just walk up to me and hit me.
I need any advise to stop this before he hurts another child. I'm literally at my wits end! Help.