17mo DS keeps lashing out at 7yo DD, help!

[jennieflower]

My lovely little boy is turning into a monster! Over the last few weeks he's taken to scratching, slapping, headbutting and hairpulling, and most of it is aimed at my poor DD.

It usually happens when we're all cuddled up on the sofa together, and he tends to go from being affectionate to being really brutal. So far I've made a point of making a fuss of DD whilst ignoring him when he hurts DD, then asking him to give his sister a cuddle. He seems to really enjoy the making up part of being told off, so when he's finished his cuddle he'll headbut her on the nose really hard, then giggle whilst I tell him off and go back for another cuddle.

Poor DD, I'm not sure how to handle this, What's the general concensus when it comes to disciplining a child so young? Any ideas?

I dunno about MN consensus, but I think ideally you use Gentle reprimands, steady but firm, keep interrupting and stopping his actions before he can do damage.
It's quite normal behaviour, btw.

Don't forget to show him what TO do.

'Stroke dd' (take hand and show)
'No hitting' hold hand so he can't and remove if necessary. No big attention, including telling off. Deadpan 'no hitting/biting' and remove/hold hand for a second, then big enthusiastic voice for 'stroke dd/be gentle' that's right, good boy!!

It'll take time. Keep going.

My ds went through this violent love stage a little while ago, and seems to get overexcited too. Oh, and we did 'kiss me/no biting' for AAAAGES but it has worked eventually to remind him what he should be doing (be gentle/stroke/careful)

(PS I wouldn't really do the 'making up/sorry' thing yet. Just apologise for him to dd)

Thanks for the replies, he's such a good little boy normally and I often brag about how much easier it's been second time round. We'll start tomorrow with a clean slate, hopefully we'll get somewhere soon!