Hitting; Biting; Pinching; throwing - 2 Years Old

[Bluebella]

Hi,

I feel as though I am at the end of my tether.

My two year old has gone through stages of hitting in the passed. When he was about 1 years old.

However now he's just turned two and it has come back ten x worse.

He is constantly pinching me and going for my face. Not just me, but children at nursery. Particularly his cousin, who is three months younger. Her language is very good, and she says 'No, don't like it!' but he just carries on. The other day he grabbed her cheek so hard, and wouldn't let go. It even drew blood!

I was so angry with him that I tapped his hand, which I have NEVER done before - always a one for if you hit, what example are you setting? Anyway, he just thought it was even more hilarious, today he's been gitting and pinching me more than ever.

Its really starting to get me down. Especially because his cousin is such an angel. Such a good girl, and it seems like my boy is being labbelled the naughty one.

Been staying with grandparents last few days, and getting sick of the comments 'Well mine never did it!' 'He had a look of hatred then!' etc....

I have tried naughty corner to no avail for ages, he thinks its funny, and he will sit there, but will be grinning. When he comes to say 'Sorry', its like it's a game and five mins later he will commit the offense again.

The next thing we are supposed to be trying is 'Ignoring bad behaviour'. Firmly saying no but then ignoring. It's so hard. Today I lost it, and shouted at him, but he just laughed and shouted back at me.

Is this ever going to get any better? At the moment I am finding it so tough, and not enjoyable at all being a parent.

Anyway one have any advice/tips/similar experiences?

Well, definitely don't worry about the contrast between your ds & his cousin. In twenty years she might be rather dull while your ds is an olympic champion.

I've got a ds who does the same and the best thing I've found is to wear him out. The buggy is almost pensioned off now. We have reins and he walks or runs everywhere, especially in the morning and after his nap if he has one.

It hasn't got rid of the problem completely but it reduces it because he's too tired to cause much trouble. The other thing that helps is to cut out as much sugar as possible and anything too processed. (difficult at grandparents, I know)

It makes a bit of work but helps.

My DS (21 months) also goes through phases of this - with him it is far worse if he is teething or ill. We do the ignoring too and sometimes he laughs at me too - or parrots it back at me ('Mummy says No! No hitting! Haha!) But you're really not alone so persevere and remember it is just a phase. Most children will go through some unpleasant phase during the next 20 years or so!

Would also second keeping an eye on the sugar/processed stuff (Grandpa fed him a packet of Scampi Fries and he went bonkers for hours and even my CM has noticed that certain things make it worse; she won't let any of the children have pink wafer biscuits!)

It does get better. Ds was really hard work as a two year old but since he turned 3 he has gotten better and better. I used to have to shadow him and just grab him away when he looked like he was going to do anything aggressive. It's been great over the last 6 months or so that I haven't had to do that anymore (he is 3.9 now).