18mo old hitting me in the face - repeatedly and hard...

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

I know that this is a phase that too shall pass etc, but I need some words of wisdom to get me through.

DS 18 mo. I'm 10 wks preg and he recently started hitting me really hard in the face - and wherever he can lay his chubby little hand actually. Not really when he is hungry or tired as a trigger, more frustrated.

As an aside I should mention he has some hearing problems and is having surgery next week for grommets, which I am hoping will alleviate some frustration. He also doesn't talk at all, because of the hearing difficulties.

Anyway, it is just getting out of hand now, and I can't ignore it. Last week he didn't want to put his shoes on, I could sense a 'hit' was coming...he hit the stair he was sitting on and then looked as if that wasn't satisfying enough so calmly looked up and walloped me in the face. I am ashamed to say that I was feeling truly ghastly with morning sickness and I lost the plot at him. I wasn't physically violent but I screamed at him (can't even remember what I said) and for once, he cried (he normally laughs if I raise my voice or try and sound stern). I walked away and left him for a minute - he just followed me and we were running late so i had to pick him up and pop him in the car.

I have checked with my CM and he doesn't hit there. He also rarely hits my DH.

I have tried walking off and givng him no reaction when it happens but he doesn't care about that. Mainly because he normally doesn't have to carry on with what he didn't want to do in the first place IYSWIM.

Help please. He's going to give me a black eye soon...

Oh god - my 6 mo ds tries to bite my face. Luckily he has no teeth yet but when I tell him no in a low firm voice and hold him away he laughs at me.

I'm trying to teach him baby sign so he won't be frustrated when he's older, but this is sheer cheekiness

I can't believe he's started so early

I am sur this isn't case for all children but some children seem to prefere when you walk away, that was actually the goal they were aiming for so they could continue their activities unchecked. So I think aching of environment is a good way of getting message across. If too young for a naughty step time out I put my daughter in her cot and left her.

I think you hav to try a few techniques and see what works for you. All I can say is that the 'sad mummy' voice and pleas to behave better in future have never, ever worked from what I have seen. Think that just goes over most heads.

Thank you all.
I feel a bit in limbo until his hearing is sorted next week. Because his communication and hearing are so poor it is hard for me to judge his understanding of me telling him off. He seems genuinely confused if I try the naughty step or whatever you want to call it.
I have had another hit-filled day with a friend's 2 yr old. Luckily (?)the other boy was behaving in a similar way which was reassuring but ended up in plenty of fights needing to be broken up