How do I stop my 16 month old from hitting?

Question

My 16 month old daughter has recently got into the habit of hitting me and my hubby in the face with her toys, head butting us in the face, pulling hair, and sticking her feet over my nose.

There are no other kids around her(she is babysat for by my sister), and we only have one child as well.

Where did she pick up this behaviour from and how do I stop it? She headbutted me in the nose yesterday, and my hubby took her to the corner for a timeout - am I doing this right?

Answer 1

My two year old had the same problem.  Not to that extreme though.  But, when he hit, I told him "not nice".  Every time he would think about hitting me or someone else, that's what i told him. Eventually he grew out of it, its just a phase. I think 16 mos is too young for timeout.

Answer 2

yes, timeout is good...16 months is young....good luck!

Answer 3

Mine is a little younger but she had the same problem. After she would hit her brother or someone I would pull her aside and ask her "Did you hit Bubba" and she would say Yes. I would then tell her that hitting was a nono and made her go tell him she was sorry. If the hitting ever got out of hand I would make her sit in time out. They say you are only supposed to make a child sit in time out for as long as their age, but I would keep having to get up and put her back in time out every time she got up. So most the time, I let her sit in there until she stops crying so much and then I go talk to her. She has greatly stopped since then. Always always make her apologize though to whomever she hit.

Dont get me wrong, I am not against spanking or anything, but at this age I think its better to explain to them whats wrong and right, rather than the old shock treatment. That way she understands what she did, and why its not good, rather than rebel more and she doesnt really know why.

Good luck, its frustrating, but stick with it.

Answer 4

hit her whenever she does it..she will adventually stop then.

Answer 5

I think you handled it right. hitting a child who is hitting is not the answer. I would not hit her. Maybe smacking her bottom if you beliee spanking works. I myself dont have this issue... he is almost 2 and he hates napping... and he hates doing whatever i say... but he surely does not hit me. he likes to tell me no... but he does not hit me.

good luck. it is a phase and it will pass. Just as her soon to be telling you no for everything!