How do you handle hitting?

Jerayskin

My nephew has a terrible temper, he is almost 2 and anytime he is told "no" he hits someone, has to kick something and throw something. Every time we go to my inlaws he hits DD or pulls her hair within 5 mins of us being there.

Their solution to the problem is, "Carson, tell Emma your sorry" in a baby voice. He says "sowry" and that's it.

He also hurts himself if he is corrected, he will bang his head on the wall, floor, brick fireplace.... I have never seen anything like it. Does anyone have any ideas to help? Thanks

Appro1

My son has a temper and does a few of these things as well.  When he hits, I will take his hand and hold it and tell him that it is not nice to hit and when he is ready to behave, then we can play again.  After that, I pick him up and place him away from us.  This is not a time out, it is just letting him know that he cannot be 'part of the fun' until he can say sorry and no longer do it.

When he throws a fit, he tends to bang his head, hit himself, ect.  When he does this, I ignore him.  I found that when I try to get him to stop or even look in his direction, he will do it more/harder.  I still watch him when he is not looking to make sure he does not take it too far but I don't let him see.  he tends to stop rather quickly. 

I hope this helps and as far as him hurting your DD, I would hold onto her till the excitement of 'arriving' has worn off.  Maybe by keeping her out of the situation, he will calm a bit faster and wont pull her hair.  GL!

leebi07

They hit once and they get a stern " no hitting is not nice" and a warning.  If they do it again, they go in a time out for 1 minute.  After time out is over they must go and apologize. 

Torani

DS1 had an aversion to "no" as well, but not to that extent.  For some reason, he responded better to "huh-uh" and did not get as upset.  When he hits, he is given a 2 minute time out, which starts over if he gets up.  After his time out is over, he has to say sorry and kiss/hug the person he hit.  If he is not willing, he goes back to time out.  It took a few months, but now he rarely hits.

groovygrl

I do immediate time out for intentional hitting if I see it happen (my kids are 3, I started that prob around 2 1/2). In his case, that would be some safe place... some even recommend strapping into the booster/highchair to keep really rambunctious kids from going nuts.