Curbing undesirable behaviour in babies... tell me if I'm kidding myself! lol

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

Is there a way of curbing undesirable behaviour in babies? I'm not talking about punishing obviously!!! I'm just not sure of how to react when my 8 month old is shrieking over and over and watching my face for a reaction. I'm currently trying to ignore him when he does it (look away or turn around for a few seconds, til he's stopped) but it doesn't seem to help and I can't think of another way because if I look shocked he grins, if I say "no!" he laughs etc

I'm not terribly bothered by the screaming usually but I do wonder if it bothers out neighbours (thin walls, INCREDIBLY LOUD boy)

He also has a habit of hitting and scratching hard, usually at my face. I know he isn't intending to hurt, but he's so heavy handed and strong he grabbed my lower lip and yanked it with his nails so hard he drew blood last week. I put him down and walked away (mainly to go inspect the damage in the mirror!)

Am I doing the right thing by ignoring/walking away/putting him down when he does not so nice things? Or should I be saying a firm "NO" or something so he knows he's done something wrong? I feel like it makes no difference, like he's probably too young to understand either way. (He's 8 months) What should I be doing, if anything?

Yes, ignoring is the way to go at this young age, blank face and no reaction, distract and divert.

You may find that you develop a rugby swerve as his wee hand hoves towards your face.

have more children

then you wont have time to worry about any of this

sorry flippant

but really all these things are just phases and I would just do waht your instinct tells you

if it hurts say No that hurt and look hurt

otherwise ignore

No way of stopping an 8 mth old doing anything, really. They really have no concept of social behaviour or of right from wrong at this age. Distraction all the way.

If you're certain he's watching your reaction imo I think a firm "no" is OK. Non-smily face, eye contact, firm "no" and put him down. You might also try a few signs for things, at that age we started ds with "ow" which is touching the tips of your forefingers together. When he hurt himself we'd say "ouch" and make the sign, then if he hit or scratched or anything, we'd do the firm "no" followed by the "ow" and the sign. He did seem to pick up the association quite fast.

Other than that....distract distract distract...!!!

The hitting/scratching happens usually during a feed, with his free arm. I've taken to zipping the arm into his grobag so he can't get me! but it's a shame because the smacks, scratches and occasional punches (!) are interspersed with loving strokes and gentle pats. He's really unpredictable, he really hurts me when he does get me, he's given me a fat lip twice.

A firm "No", definitely.

It is not too early to show him you are not happy to be hurt.

if it helps my DD went through a biting/hairpulling/hitting stage at a similar age.

i was a wee bit concerned that I was raising a psychopath, but not bothered enough to do anything about it.

at 13mo, her obsession with being a bit physical has disappeared of its own accord, and has been replaced with demamding to hear Hairy Maclary being read about 8 million times daily.

not sure that i didn't prefer the biting, tbh.

Lol enid, true, mothers of multiple kids always seem unflappable.

Oh god don't talk about hairpulling! I have very long hair and he dangles off it, yanks fistfuls out. I know he does it on purpose too because he finds it fascinating. I've taken to wearing it in plaits constantly because of him. Now he hits my face instead.

Ok so distraction for the screaming, NO and put him down for the hitting, whilst inwardly chanting and praying that it's a phase.

I hope to god it is a phase though. He has a short fuse and red hair, so of course everyone keeps saying he'll be a handful when he's older!

'This too shall pass' and you will have a toddler zooming around in the blink of an eye

put him down and walk away .. won't kill him

I'm with Enid .. have more kids