My 2 year old is keeps hitting my 7 month year old. What to do

Question

I keep telling my 2 year old son not to hit him. I tell him to say sorry to his brother and he sais sorry with a big grin on his face beacuse he still doesn't understand what the word means. He'll hit him, slap him, pinch him, snatch his toys, and throw things at him. I keep telling him to say sorry ands say NO HITTING! And he'll so No no hitting but then he hits him again. And beacuse of this his little brither has trouble sleeping. Any help?

Answer 1

when one of my nephews was littleabout 15 months he hit his 1 month old brother in the head and after i got onto him he picked up a hard toy threw it in the air and hit himself in the head  

Answer 2

It is so weird.. Our kids are the same age.. I have a 2 year old and an 8 month old that just turned 8 months old. I know what you mean. My two year old is soo mean to my little baby. What I do is tell her NO and then I will spank her hand and make her tell her sister that she is sorry and make her give her a kiss. She is getting better and I always ask her if I catch her before she does it does she want a spanking or to sit in time out and that we don't hit our sissy we love our sissy..

So I think she is finally learning and when she takes her toys or paci I make her give it back that way she knows what she is doing and she knows that she can't take things from her sister. Now she has learned that if she wants something that she has, that she will go get something else for her sister and then switch with her.  Hope this helps...

Answer 3

start putting him in time out, or taking things away from him. when he smacks his brother, smack him on his hand. youre the boss. make him stop.

Answer 4

It's become a game to him-he hits, you give him attention!

I would stop right now with the saying 'sorry' because he doesnt understand it and its just beign said as a phrase. Problem with sorry is children often think that as soon as thye;'ve said it they are forgiven and all's well...they dont really learn from the experience. Of course 'sorry' comes into it when they are older and understand empathy more!

It sounds like there's a couple of ideas you could try:

1) Distraction-ensure he is occupied and has things to do. Make sure he has time outside to run and jump and burn off some of the excess energy! This will keep him out of the line of being tempted to do something he shouldnt!

2) Ignore him-abviously you cant ignore if he's attaching the 7 month old but give the attention to the 'victim' first. Give a cuddle and smile and praise that they've been brave (yes I know they're only 7 months) this will take away the attention from the otehr children and he will see that positive praise is better. After comforting and placing child somewhere safe you then deal with the 2 year old. Sit them down away from other child and get down to his level, look him in the eye and simply say "No" or "Hands to yourself" (that usual works well as it reinforces what you want them to do not the negative). As he is only two time outs arent that useful so get him settled at something quiet like colouring and let him play on his own whislt you observe the other child.

3) Positive attention-every time he does something even tiny that positive praise him. He'll learn that he gets better results being good!

4) Social practice-take him to toddler groups or the park where he will have experience with other chidlren, with sharing, turn taking and friendships. Chidlren learn social rules through practice! Also have time together all three of you-maybe you all sit together to look at book, all sit on floor together and build tower. This bonding wil promote the positive.

Answer 5

Use time outs.  They work wonders in this house.

Also, set aside some time each day where just you and your 2 year old play.  He seems to be looking for attention, even if its negative.  Good luck.

Answer 6

If you spank, stop spanking. Spanking reinforces the belief that "Mom hit me when I did something she didn't like, so now my brother is doing something I don't like, so it's okay for me to hit him".

Use time outs for two minutes in the corner, take away his toys, remove him from any fun situations, take away fun activities, such as going to the park, and take away special treats.

Tell him that until his hitting stops, he cannot have these things back. Take them away one by one each time he hits, so he sees that as he hits, he loses things he likes. He will catch on and will stop his behaviour.

Answer 7

Put your two year old in time and tell him "We do not hit in this house".  I doubt your 7 year old has trouble sleeping because your 2 year old is acting like a 2 year old though.  If your 7 year old is having problems sleeping you need to find out what the real problem is.  

Answer 8

HAVE HIM SIT ON TIME OUT FOR 2 MINUTES!! and then when he does it again sit him down on time out again but double the time don't go over 12 minutes longer then that would be to long tell him when you sit him down that when he hits the baby it hurts him and that is not good and he will learn quickly  

Answer 9

I would seriously consider keeping your 2yr old and 7mo apart for as long as physically possible.  The problem here is its classic sibling rivalry.  You may nt think you do, but the 7 month old naturally will get more attention from mom than the 2 year old.  This causes the 2 yr old to get frustrated with the whole situation, so he is seeking attention the only way he knows he can get it - by hurting your 7 month old.

If you have a spare room with nothing fun in it, like a guest room - no toys, just bed chair and carpet, put yout 2yo in there every time he hurts  your 7mo.  This is the most effective method of time out, since putting them in a room such as their bedroom, which will probably have toys in it, reinforces the idea that bad behaviour means they get left alone to do something fun.

Mojado, by the way, your answer violates community guidelines by advocating harm to a minor.  It has been reported as a violation.