Help! 2 year old hitting and biting me before bed

[Silversal]

Please help! 2 yr old has been hitting, biting and pinching me for the last 6 weeks when going to sleep at night but not lunch time nap. I know they are teething (last 4) but I've never experienced any violence like this during the day and seems directed only to me putting them down to sleep at night. Has anyone else experienced this? They have had a developmental leap during this time talking more and growth spurt. Any ideas would be appreciated, we sleep in the same room but they've always slept in their cot but 5/7 nights gets into my bed now. Single mum, so no one else to help with bed time routine. Also, prior to 6 weeks ago slept 2.5hr naps in the day and 11hrs solid at night, now 1.5 to 2hr naps in the day and 9.5-10hrs at night.

So I am a complete layman but this seems to me like sensory overstimulation.

Look up "heavy work activities which regulate nervous system".

My kids both tried out hitting and I redirected them to slapping my hands high five style or slapping the couch as hard as the could. This worked for stopping the out of control slapping behaviour in the moment.

When things were calmer I would suggest pushing my hands as hard as they could. It's a fun game if you sit on a beanbag or something and they actually get to push you over sometimes. This builds a nice fun bond while also regulating their system.

There's lots of other activities. Carrying heavy things for example, give them a back pack and challenge them to make it as heavy as the can and see how far the can carry it. Or let them have a go with dumbbells if you have them around.

Their bodies need a little bit of challenge at the end of the day to help them wind down. Some kids need a lot of this and some don't need it at all.

They do a lot of rough and tumble with their dad which helps but I still find I have to do the above things when he's not around. There is research suggesting the men do far more rough and tumble with their kids than mums do. Personally, I find it does not come easily but I've found ways to challenge their bodies a bit without getting myself hurt!

Lastly, make sure your kids is getting exercise through the day where possible as this can help a lot with sleep and behaviour.

How do you react? If my children had hit or bitten me at that age I would have had a very strong response of "NO. You don't do that. Stop it right now"

Yes, I should add to what I said... I always told my kids that it was not ok to hurt someone, regardless of how we feel.

Thanks for your replies. We are out in the park/playgroup 9-11 in the morning and 3.30-5.30 in another park or softplay in the evening. I have I feel tried many different things firm 'no, that hurts mum' says hurt then continues, also put in their cot and said everytime you hurt mummy you will go back in your cot until you can show me gentle. When DC is doing this it's like they are enraged and manically lashing out. Normally DC is the most loveliest little one with everyone including me but nighttime triggers this behaviour, the only effective way I've found is to firmly say no and restrain safely until they get upset and ask for a cuddle. I always try and redirect with a cuddle before restraining, it's so odd.
My DC is definitely a sensory seeker though, very physical.