10 mo trying to rip my head off

[LionRichie]

OK, slight exaggeration, but there are horrendous scratches all over my poor neck and I have no idea how to make her stop.

It's mainly when she's tired and I'm trying to put her to bed, but it sometimes seems almost like she's enjoying herself?! She slaps my chest, pulls on my hair, and rakes her fingernails down my neck. Trying to stop her only seems to make her more determined to do it. She doesn't do it to my partner, though; it's just something she saves specially for me! "I love you mummy, now let me gouge your eyes out."

I keep telling her no and putting her down but I don't think she understands. Guess I am just wondering if this is a) normal, and b) if there's any point telling her off. I don't want to scare her, especially not if she's too little to learn.

Right, time for the daily nail filing I think!

Normal, unfortunately. And my ds who is 1 still does it, but not as badly. My tips are keep her nails short, and put something else in her hand. If I'm giving ds a bottle I'll give him the lid to hold, for instance

I have to cut my 10 month olds nails daily as he scratches himself. He has taken to biting me whenever he is tired. I say no and look sad, he laughs and I put him to sleep! No solution but hoping he will grow out of it...with 8 teeth its pretty painful!

was going to say, keep her nails very short. Our second did this too along with biting. Saying No firmly and putting him down for 5 mins just didn't work, so it was the end of breastfeeding. We did start working on not pulling hair a few weeks ago (after he was 1) and it's slowly taking effect.

But I don't think they realise they are scratching, so there's not much you can do except keep their nails short and if it gets too bad, settle them on your lap where they can't reach. Maybe making a pained expression and pulling your head back out of reach will make a difference over time, once she's a bit older.