Scratching, gouging, biting and Chinese burns

[acnebride]

I am so hoping that we are not the only person to have an 18-month old who does all these.

DS is a lovely child, very demonstrative and huggy. Then suddenly he will get a certain look in his eye and slap me in the eye, or grab my throat in both hands and pull (he has big hands and is strong), or scratch my neck and chest, or bite. He will also do this to dh, but so far thank God, not to other children or other relatives.

We look him in the eye and say '[name], No biting' (or whatever) and put him in the corner for a minute. He is getting quite good at staying there. We are starting to get him to kiss us 'sorry' afterwards as he can't say it. Then we try and pay him some attention.

The one small light about this is that biting is fading - he clearly bites more if he is teething - also it is mostly about lack of attention or tiredness. But otherwise I am really worried - I feel as if I am raising a psychopath - and also quite covered in scratch scars!

Any words of help or comfort??

My ds did this, but I never cracked it, he just grew out of it.

If it's any comfort, your little boy has no idea it is hurting you!

Colditz, you're a star, thank you

They grow out of biting etc. My ds did these sorts of things....he was great at the old head butt as well!

He is a real little sweetheart now, full of hugs and cuddles (aged 5)

When his hands come towards you, to slap or scratch, catch a hold of them and play a clapping game. It is a diversionary tactic and will take his mind away from whatever he was going to do, and refocus him on a pleasant game with mummy.

And don't forget to keep his fingernails short!

Hi there, yuo are not alone. My dd up until a couple of months ago was (she is now 26 months) was crucifying me with her pinching and biting. She was also doing it to other children which is just appalling. She is getting better, but I do think it is just a phase. We tried time-out - getting down to her level and saying "biting hurts", and then putting her on the naughty step for 2 minutes. We would then return to her and ask if she was ready to say sorry. If she said yes, then she would come back in the room, say sorry and carry on playing. If not, we left her there until ready to apologise.

It really is awful and I can sympathise.