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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
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Hitting, but not in anger?

dorothy&gaildorothy&gail
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

Over the past couple of weeks my 17 month old DS has started to hit in order to get your attention.  He doesn't hit other kids, and he doesn't hit in anger.  When it happens is if I am sitting on the couch or making dinner and he wants my attention, he will walk over and hit me on the leg.  Does the same thing to my DH and my mom, who watches him during the day while me and DH are at work. Sometimes I think he thinks it's a game because he will kind of smirk when he does it.  So I am questioning if what I am doing to deter the behavior is right.

I have been kneeling down, taking bother of his hands in mine, looking him in the eyes, and saying something like "Ouch, hitting hurts.  We do not hit.  We can touch gentle and hug."  Most times he will walk away, and come right back in a few seconds and do it again.  After the second time we do a mini 3 min time out.

Anyone else have a LO going through this?  Just curious what you have been doing and what is working.

BFP #1 2/10/10: No HB on 4/29/10 at 15 wk, D&C 4/30/10, Baby measured 11-12 wks. First Pregnancy and first loss. BFP #2 7/25/10: Blake Daniel arrived 3/25/11 BFP #3 3/9/12: Our Turkey Baby! Due Date: 11/19/12 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker BabyFruit Ticker Image and video hosting by TinyPic image
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Re: Hitting, but not in anger?

  • daniella2727daniella2727 member
    My 16 month old is hitting too AND pulling hair. She is not doing it out of anger or frustration - she will do it sitting on my lap and she thinks it is hysterical! She laughs and says "ouch" - we do the same as you and constantly say "no hit, be nice, be gentle" and then we softly rub/touch her to show her what being nice is. No advice, biut you are not alone and it is a normal behavior
    My Pregnancy Blog: https://waiting4tuesday.wordpress.com/ Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • walkers4506walkers4506 member
    My son does the same thing but he uses any implement to hit us or our dog (little golf clubs, the plastic carrier they came in, plastic bat...anything)  It is a big struggle we have practiced the dont hit be nice and its getting slightly better... Just keep showing him what being nice is (i.e. pet your cheek or leg or animal whatever the problem is)
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  • genekellygenekelly member
    Our son started hitting "for fun" about 1 mo ago.  He doesn't do it hard, I just think that it is something new that he is investigating.   We stop his hand and tell him 'no hitting' and if it continues, I put him down or put him away from me.  Usually he'll wander off unperturbed.  I figure he'll get over it eventually if we remain consistent.  It's already gotten a little better.
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