Face-grabbing 9m DS - when will it end??

[u32ng]

So my DS randomly likes to grab a handful of my face (especially when I'm holding him). It's blinkin' sore and I have a couple 'lovely' gouges that drew blood at the time and are still healing up.

I am forever cutting his nails & had even resorted to filing them, ironically the day before he gave me the worst injury.

He doesn't do it when angry or upset, it seems to be like it's more a playful, fun thing to him despite getting told "NO" and his hand stopped - if I'm quick enough. He does it to DH & other family too.

Is this just a phase? When will it end?? Worried he will end up doing same to some poor other child at the baby groups we go to!

I guess things like this are curiosity and fascination, and that's how babies learn, rather than intent to hurt or 'be naughty'.

Maybe if you can anticipate when he is going to do it, and distract him before he gets a chance. Obviously, he can only do it when you are within his reach, but then you also don't want to always have to be distant from him. He might even think it's all part of a game, when you say No and stop his hand.

I don't know if you could - gently - do something similar to HIS face, obviously not hurting him, but enough to make him realise it is rather unpleasant. Most things are probably 'just a phase', and when he tires of this he will move on to something else - hopefully not worse! Hair-pulling is pretty common I think.

My 5m old DS does this - oh god, have I another four months of it? It started off as hair, then ears, nose; then he hooked my lip, now it's just grab face and pull!!

No advice as you can gather OP - extending a in sympathy.