DD1 hit DD2!

lilone_06

I feel like such a bad mom. This morning my 2 yo smacked her little sister pretty hard.   I was just across the room but too far to stop it.  I put DD in time out and I think she knew what she'd done, but still, I feel awful. 

Any suggestions?  I know it's not the end of the world, but I still feel really bad.  For both of them, kind of.

krub

At that age, I pretty much never left #2 unattended within arms reach of #1.  He didn't intend to hurt her, but he was very curious and I knew he couldn't be trusted around her.  I had bouncies all over the house so that I could take her witih me where ever I needed to go.  If I was a few steps away in the kitchen, she usually went into a bouncy on the counter or the swing nearby me. 

It happens and try not to feel too bad about it.  Your 2 y/o is curious and probably testing what would happen.

howleyshell

The only thing you can do is what you're doing - continue the message "no hit"

If you want a good laugh tell her hitting's "unacceptable" because it's HILARIOUS to hear your toddler try to say the word "unacceptable."  (but I digress)

Seriously though - you do what you can and you watch them carefully when they're together.

A redirect option would be to tell her that we hug, not hit but if yours is anything like mine was around that age hugging became kinda brutal too so it wasn't a good choice for us.

Beyond that talk about "nice" vs "mean" behavior if you don't think she's being malicious with her intent.  Talk about nice things to do for the baby - bring her a soft toy, etc.

Again - for us bringing a toy to the baby at that age would have probably been rough too.

I did end up telling my toddler "no touch" with the baby unless Mommy helped him.  THAT was something he understood.  "No touch" was a phrase that had real meaning to him as we were already using it for other objects.

 

And a story to make you feel better:

My BFF's kids are 17 months apart.  I was at her house and we were getting ready to leave to go shopping.  She ran into the kitchen to grab her keys and I turned my back on the infant in the carrier and the toddler for 2 seconds while in conversation with her in that part of the house.

When she walked back into the living room the older toddler had her hands in fists and was leaning into the baby carrier with her fists in the baby's eye sockets.  I'm talking leaning in with all her body weight and her elbows locked straight - into his eyeballs!

Terrified both of us even though the baby was fine.

Fast forward 8 years and they are the BEST of friends.

This too shall pass...... 

JARbaby

The first of many a hit, shove, whatever...good times.

Time out is the best way to go. Mine are both mobile now so it is a little different. I do not always interfere. Some things they will work out for themselves, even at 10m and 2.5 and they do. Julia can hold her own.

jlw2505

It happens and you are not a bad mom.  This past Aug, I was sitting with my younger DD on my lap and my older DD reached across us to get something and for no reason, my younger DD bit down on her arm so hard.  I mean - hard enough that I had to pry her mouth open.  We were in a room full of family so everyone saw it and was just shocked.  I put her in time out right away and gave my older DD some extra attention.  All you can do is keep telling your kids no hitting, no biting.  It is a phase that kids go through and you can't watch them 24/7 that closely and even when you are right there, it will happen.  Just keep repeating no hiting, do time-outs and talk about what happened and why.  Always do the same thing when it happens so they see this is not OK.

MrsPreK

krub:

At that age, I pretty much never left #2 unattended within arms reach of #1.  He didn't intend to hurt her, but he was very curious and I knew he couldn't be trusted around her.  I had bouncies all over the house so that I could take her witih me where ever I needed to go.  If I was a few steps away in the kitchen, she usually went into a bouncy on the counter or the swing nearby me. 

It happens and try not to feel too bad about it.  Your 2 y/o is curious and probably testing what would happen.

This. I won't leave DD attended with DS. Ever. If she is, she is positioned where he cannot get to her. 

Pesky

It happens.  Won't be the last time either.  Just try not to leave them alone and try to redirect and teach your DD1 how to be gentle with DD2. 

lynnbeez

I'm sorry, I know that was hard to see.  You're not a bad Mom!

pawleygirl77

I think this is what I'm dreading the most and reading the responses are helping me. JD is already an aggressive child. He gets put in time out multiple times a day for biting and hitting me so we're trying to work with him now. Hopefully he'll start to understand by the time the baby arrives in January... but I doubt it! I plan to just keep the baby out of JD's reach as much as possible. I know it's inevitable but I also know I'll feel awful when it does happen!