How to stop being hit by a strong baby?

[cinemalovers]

Ds is very strong and 10 months old. I have a black eye, two bruised cheekbones, a loose tooth and numerous other bruises where he has hit me when I am holding him, feeding him, playing with him etc. obviously he has no idea what he is doing - he just moves his arms very quickly and very powerfully!

what am I doing wrong? Should I stop being so physically close to him? Will I just learn to avoid it ? Should I try to teach him how to be gentle?

Seriously?

Do you sit him facing out wards on your lap? Is he lashing out because he feels too 'contained?' I think I'd do what I used to do when ds but, put him down and walk away.

Is he crawling? I think by the time ds was mobile he spent very little time anywhere near me!

He hits you, you put him down, firmly say NO! And leave him there until he stops whinging, pick him up, show him and say ouch you hit mummy, ask him if he is sorry and cuddle him... EVERYTIME. It will stop

Thank you everyone - he is not trying to hit me, just playing and I am in the way. But he is really boisterous and sudden - he will be concentrating on a toy and then suddenly fling his arm up and hit me by mistake. It sounds like I just need to be further away .... Maybe I am babying him too much. (He gets into so much danger, i am terrified he is going to hurt himself all the time)

Baby proof your living area as much as you can and then, yes, take a small step back!

I can't see how much danger that he could really get into, and it is good for them to explore under their own steam. At that age my ds was cruising the furniture and trying to walk - he was forever falling over and bashing various bits of him. His forehead was pretty much always sporting a bruise. They're tougher than you think.