How to stop 18 month old from hitting?

[ru53]

Any tips? She has just started hitting this week (mainly me and luckily no other children so far.) Feels like she’s seeing the behaviour at nursery and testing it out at home. We currently say a very firm and serious NO, more than once, and say No hitting. Then follow by saying ‘be gentle’ which she understands and has done for a while. Today she hit me in the face, then immediately started stroking my arm and saying ‘gentle’ - so I feel like it has become a game to her now. Any advice or toddler parenting book recommendations welcome.

This article from Ask Dr Sears is pretty good.

If you google something like "board books hitting uk" I'm sure you'll get some books coming up or your local library might have a couple. Ours usually has a selection of books on different little issues that crop up.

I think put your finger up and say no very firmly. I wouldn't bother with the be gentle for the time being.

I must admit that DD only stopped when she did it in front of my DF and he raised his voice at her. The only time he ever did and she burst into tears.

It can take a while to pass through this stage. Sometimes the frustration gets so much they hit themselves too.

Say no, frown and say ouch, then move and turn away.

it is totally normal development. All kids hit. Stamp. Bite. The baby Jesus might not have cried when he was a baby, but the Bible is suspiciously quiet about the toddler years.

I would say no, but I would also put her down or step away from her (just briefly, she's only tiny) to reinforce your 'no' with actions that say 'I don't want to play with you if you hit'. She's too young for so many words, but she'll start to connect a very simple 'I hit, I lose Mummy/Daddy's attention'.

Yes she’s been hitting herself when I stop her from hitting me. In fairness she hasn’t been well so I think is extra tried and frustrated. Thanks everyone for your advice and @SiouxsieSiouxStilleto I will try and get hold of that book. I know it’s a normal part of their development but I’d like to nip it in the bud and don’t want to approach it wrong, all the advice I’d found so far seemed to be aimed at older children.

Less attention is better. I walked off immediately which seemed to work.