17 month old being a rough pup

[newmummytonoah2016]

Hi

Just wondered if anyone has any advice for me with my 17 month old, he can play a bit rough and I really don’t know how to stop him in doing so.

Majority of the time he is such a lovely happy little boy, then occasionally he tries to headbutt, bite, pinch and hit. I know he doesn’t really know what he’s doing and when I pull him off me he laughs so thinks it’s a big game, just it’s bothering me how I can teach him those things are naughty. He doesn’t seem to understand the word no at the moment, or is choosing to not listen to it. Am I expecting too much with how little he is to understand being told off etc?

We’re expecting a second baby in June (some may think I’m crazy I know) but most of the time I can’t wait for this and then days like today where he has been quite naughty I do worry about my husband being at work and my 1 year old just running riot! To be fair this morning he was tired as he got up super early with his teething and he tends to get naughty when tired, but I’m just wondering the best way to deal with it!

Thanks xx

Do you play games that end up in play fighting and rough housing? He's too young to stop before it goes to far.

I would stop, make direct eye contact and say "kind hands" then walk away. Using positive language like "kind hands" is more effective than negative language like "no hitting" in my limited experience. Your son probably understands "no" but enjoys seeing if you'll always react the same way and will enjoy the attention, even negative.

Sometimes his dad is a little playful with him, but wouldn’t say we particularly do play fighting. It’s more just tickling playfully. He seems to see it as a funny game to start these things off. I think it’s probably down to how we’ve reacted sometimes, certainly me as if he’s hurt me I wince a bit and he seems to laugh at my reaction not realising he’s hurt me obviously.

That’s a good idea with the kind hands suggestion, I often try say ‘nicely’ and stay calm. But there are times I probably react to him too much, which I’m sure is why he does it all the more!