17 month old hitting us

[Frazzled13]

DD is 17 months and has recently become a frequent hitter. She doesn’t do this when angry or upset, she’ll just randomly start whacking us (DH and me) when we’re playing, or reading a story or anything really. While she’s doing it she’s smiling and happy, so it doesn’t feel like a frustration/temper reaction. We say “no!” and will put her down if holding her, but she just laughs as if it’s a game and carries on.
Any tips for stopping this? If she does it while holding a block or something it really hurts!

You remove her ability to do it (block her) yes but you also have to show her what is correct instead. Don't just show "don't do", show "we do this instead".

So the next time you are being hit, quietly prevent it but immediately mimic gently stroking a teddy instead, loudly talking about it. Then her face. Repeat a key word while you do it, and get all her carers like nursery in on it if needed. So, if she hits your face, repeat "softly, softly" while stroking teddy's face. Then stroke her cheek saying softly. Then a sibling does the same. Then back to teddy.

It usually sorts it out within a day or so in a nursery setting, but I realise that's not home, and you need a simple key word that all carers are using / mimicry to be consistent.

At 17 months they don't understand why it's wrong, they just know they get a reaction when hitting you. After all, you probably clap and say well done when they hit a drum, right? They need to be shown there's a difference between that and someone's head.

(This problem is usually more urgent if they're newly interacting with a pet; often the same issue.)