15 month old hitting, biting and just generally being destructive

[singingpinkmonkey]

Is this normal?

Its started in the past month or so. Everytime I get close to him, to give him a kiss for example, he hits me.

For a toddler he is pretty strong and I'm currently sporting a few scratches on my face and a sore cheek.

I have tried firmly saying no but I don't see what else I can do with a toddler who is still learning to communicate.

The poor dog gets it worse. I'm currently sat shielding him from my toddler who thinks it's hilarious to smack him over the head with his toys.

I'm just worried that he may carry on this behaviour at nursery. I would hate for him to hurt another child. I have checked with the nursery staff and he doesn't seem to have done anything so far.

How can I handle this? Please tell me it's a just a phase. My poor face and limbs need a break!

Ask Dr Sears has some good advice on hitting here OP. Do you think it’s frustration and if so, have you thought of using signs with him so that he can communicate with you more easily?

Can the dog be put in another room too?

Is he laughing? Does he think you’re playing? Whenever I tell my twins no, one of them laughs his head off - at that age he couldn’t tell when I was being serious. Neither of them have been outright intentionally violent yet though (they’re 19 months).

Yes he laughs everytime he hits out. If he is having a tantrum he just tends to cry and stamp his feet. The hitting doesn't seem to be out of anger.
I can try and put the dog in another room but I know he will get anxious as he likes to be in his spot in the living room.

My MIL is taking the dog for a few days to give him a child free holiday!

Have you tried removing DS instead, so place him in another room for a few seconds each time he does hit?

When one of mine is doing something they’re not supposed to, I tell them no firmly and why - if they don’t stop, I put them in their playpen for a minute. I don’t think they really fully understand yet but usually they will stop. Redirecting to another toy / activity especially if it’s something with a similar action to hitting seems to help.

I’d be really careful with the dog though - my friends toddler was bitten in the face after her toddler dropped and sat on him and he was the most placid dog until then. If he feels threatened he may turn on him

We started saying "gently, gently" and taking her hand to do a gentle stroke on DS/me/DH/whoever she'd just assaulted at that age. It helped quite a bit but she is still a toddler, and they don't get that they're hurting people. It's really normal, though. Just redirect every single time.

I hope it’s normal as ds doing exactly the same thing