10 month old hitting in face

brunertara

Hello,

My 10 month old hits in the face and it hurts. We tell him to stop and we also sign with him. I know he doesn't understand to put it all together just yet, but I want to re direct him and then encourage him once he does a behavior that is good. But how? What could I do? I am at a loss on how to re direct him b/c he usually does it when your in his face wanting to kiss him or play. He will also just keep swatting too. He doesn't do it all the time, but when he does it sure hurts. He started pouting and sticking out his bottom lip when I scolded him and would look away from me b/c he was ashamed. It was cute and sad all at the same time. My husband can't help but laugh. Which makes me mad and he then picks him up b/c he's getting ready to cry after I got on him. Umm no Daddy, we cannot do that! Mixed signals. I just don't want to say stop over and over. I want to find something to re direct him and encourage a positive behavior. Hoping that maybe he will pick up that positive behavior.

 

Thanks in advance and I hope I am not alone in this new battle of the wills with a ten month old. 

Pleione

Perhaps you could continue to say no firmly and then take his hands and show him positive behaviour. Maybe stroke your face with them or make them clap. A scolding will probably get you nowhere at this age because as you know, they don't quite get the complexity of it yet. But a constant "no" and physical re-direction should do the trick.

littleredfish

I agree with PP on redirection; DD was a bad hair puller. We'd tell her "no" firmly with no result. We started saying "no" then redirecting her to pet the animals or stroke my hair instead and said "gentle". Now she does that 90% of the time with only a little hair pulling when she's very excited and seems to forget in that second. She'll stroke the hair and whisper "jaja" to herself like her own mantra to remind herself to be gentle. It's super cute.

Smh619

We're having a similar issue. My husband shaves his head & I think Zach just likes the sound of his hand hitting his head. But he also will slap you in the face & it does hurt! We just say no and show him how to do "nice hands" It hasn't solved the problem yet but maybe someday

 

yepyepsms

littleredfish:

I agree with PP on redirection; DD was a bad hair puller. We'd tell her "no" firmly with no result. We started saying "no" then redirecting her to pet the animals or stroke my hair instead and said "gentle". Now she does that 90% of the time with only a little hair pulling when she's very excited and seems to forget in that second. She'll stroke the hair and whisper "jaja" to herself like her own mantra to remind herself to be gentle. It's super cute.

 We are having the same issue with hair pulling and hitting (with me, the dog, and comments he's doing it to other babies at daycare).  I just started the redirect and "gentle" as described above a couple of days ago and it seems to be working.  Good luck!