14 month old thug - wtf do I do?

[COCKadoodledooo]

Ds2 is frankly a little git atm - pinching, scratching, slapping, biting. Mostly me, but he's just tried to take a chunk out of his (off school sick) big bro too.

Ds1 was never like this. Ds2 is a bloody whirlwind - he's into everything, nothing is sacred. He doesn't stop from the moment he gets up far too bloody early to the moment he goes to bed. If I'm lucky I can get him to nap for half an hour.

Time out won't really work as he cannot be left alone for fear of what he will destroy do to himself. I can't put him in his cot and walk away because he climbs out.

He's a cute and clever little bugger the rest of the time, which his saving grace frankly. But when he's got a strop on I could quite cheerfully walk away and never return.

How can I stop him?

I have the same problem with my 2 year old (it's been going on a few months). I am told that it is totally normal and will pass soon (!). I tell him that it hurts and then tell him to cuddle me instead (which he then does very tenderly). I think he's just too small to work out not to do it again. He always does it either out of over-excitement or when he's frustrated because I don't understand him. I'm pretty sure (and friends have confirmed that it happened like this with their child) that once he can express himself better using speech, he won't get so frustrated and so that will calm down. As for getting over-excited and biting me in his excitement... I guess by the time he's 32 he won't be doing it anymore!

I used to have a spot on one end of the sofa where i used to sit mine. That way they aren't excluded but a clear sign that they are doing unwanted behaviour. Each and every time he got down i would put him back. I was firm and consistant and luckily i'm stubborn by nature and wouldn't give in to a 14 month old. I have zero tolerance on hurting others. As a result my boys aged 7 and 4 have never had a fight or hurt another child.

More importantly i made a fuss of the injured person.

Try to watch him for trigger points to and distract or avoid them. Is he teething? He won't be biting because he likes to hurt but because of either the reaction it gets (attention or relief from teething pain etc)

Show him how to use his hands gently. Massage him and then ask him to do the same, stroke arms etc and keep him busy!

The devil makes work for idle hands!

Good luck.