14mo keeps hitting me and its getting me down.

[VeryUpsetMummy]

DS keeps hitting me.. at first i thought he was just waving his arm, but now i see that he actually gets closer in order to 'get' me. He sometimes hits my legs or arms, but when he isnt getting his way he hits my face, espeically if wants my attention.

I dont know what i have done wrong, or how to stop this. I've tried sternly (sp?) telling him 'no' and i've tried ignoring him but he continues.

Does anyone have advice or experience of this, its really getting me down?

I forgot to add, if he has a toy in his hand, he'll hit me in the face with that too.

No advice but plenty of experience.

DS1 (2.5) is doing it all the time and it hurts. I am heavily pregnant and he aims for the belly.

I have tried the naughty corner (but he seems to like it) btu struggle to physically manouver him at the moment.

In your situation he is too young to understand much in the ay of puinishment - I would suggest just walking away from him whenever he does it. I am trying this with DS1 at the moment (problem is he just follows and keeps hitting)

My 14 month old daughter has recently started doing something similar.

She will hit me and bite me, normally in the face, or grab my lips and pull them, or yank my hair.

It's very frustrating and not a little cross-making, but I don't think she is doing it to hurt me, it seems to be a phase she is going through and it just interests her to see what happens.

However, as I have little desire to raise a complete hooligan I do say 'No' firmly and if she carries on I pick her up and put her down out of reach, saying 'No' again.

Unfortunately she tends to think this is funny until about the 12th repetition, so it's all about perseverance and consistency here, however much I don't feel like it.

I sympathise though, it's not the most endearing phase of development.

You haven't done anyting wrong. Say 'no hitting' with a disaproving face. Try to find out why he wants your attention at that moment. He's too little to tell you verbally what he wants, so unfortunately has to find another way, and hitting is his method.

My 16 mo ds does this too. We hold on to his hand and say "no" and "gently" and show him how to pat, rather than hit. I think it's a game to them, but disapproval seems to work reasonably well with ds. Other than that, keep your distance, I guess.

Thanks everyone, i have been getting myself all worked up about this and my DH is trying his best to keep my spirits up.

I'll have to keep being cheery and nice and hope that this phase passes quickly, he used to be such a happy boy and sweet but now seems to angry and upset

Ds has just gone through about 5-6 weeks of being very unsettled and quite grumpy. Two weeks in, his pre-molars appeared and the last one is almost fully through as he is starting to be a bit more cheerful. I know people blame teething for a lot of things, but it could actually be just that!

Have you tried pretending you're really sad when it happens - pretending to cry etc?

I remember DS1 going through this at around 14/15 months of age. I used to get really upset & worried about it to, wondering what I had done wrong & where he had picked it up from, but it was just a short phase & he stopped it in no time.
Just keep saying "No" to him in a firm voice when he hits out.
Honestly, it will pass!

I've pretended crying - he laughs.

OMG flashbacks, ugh this was a really horrible time and I remember so well, the firm 'No', the gentle 'No', the putting DS down and walking away.. we tried anything and everything that was suggested.
So I played the, Ignore the act card. It hurt, having my face grabbed, scratched and hit. From what i remember 2/3 times DS did this with absolutely no reaction at all from me, not even a flinch. I just took it, showed no response, he gave up. TG. Only another suggestion for you. good luck.

The trouble is he doesn't yet have any idea that other people have any feelings, physical or emotional. Ignoring sounds like a good idea.