scrappers

[jocat]

Please someone help me because I am rapidly falling out of love with my scrapping twins. They are 18mths old and while they are often the best of friends, at other times they really scrap by which I mean swiping each other in the face. Usually over a toy or territory. But my girl did it to another toddler at play gym so I feel I have to really tackle this now. Are they too young to understand time outs because they dont seem to work!? Sometimes one will swipe the other and before I can intervene that one will swipe back and so on and so on so then what do I do??? Am so confused and its really starting to make me feel low...
This is my first posting on mnet and really wanted to write it in the funny vein others seem to but just cant manage it-hmmm!

try and give them some space on their own once in a while - so they don't have to fight for things.

And try bumping if you don't get an answer - twin mums are often doing 4 things at once and may have missed your post - but they will answer in the end.

One of my twins went through a terrible hitting and biting stage at 18 months. She also started to hit other children at playgroups which was a nightmare and really embarrassing - I was leaving on the verge of tears!

Lots of mums on Mumsnet suggested removing her from the room which I did consistently - this really worked. When she hit her sister I would explain sternly it was unacceptable and put her out in the hall by herself. I'd then engage her sister in an activity (read a book or play with a toy). When she came back in I would ask her to say sorry.

At playgroup I would explain if she kept hitting we would go home - we did this twice. I felt dreadful for her sister but had to stick to my guns.

They are coming up to 2 next month and she has really improved. TBH I don't know if this is down to how I dealt with it - or whether she would have improved regardless. They have the odd scrap now but it's rarely a big deal and she no longer hits children at groups. Worth a try!

Thank you guys you have provided me with a glimmer of hope that my children will indeed be able to socialise and function as adults! Started giving them one-to-one time last weekend when husband off work so will persevere with that as well as the removing technique which I particularly like the sound of cos think it will work with my two. Will def bump next time not sure what am doing with this whole webchat thing..!!!