My toddler keeps hitting me?

Question

He just turned 2 years old in May. He hits if he's angry or just playing... Right in my face. I've hit his hand but that doesnt seem to do much, he'll just do it again... I'll send him to his room (Time out) he'll go quietly but he just doesnt get it

Answer 1

This is an age where your toddler will test your boundaries over and over and over.  Stick to your guns, and do not let him win the battle.  The same "punishment" over and over is what will eventually crown you victorious. :)  

From my own experience, it may take a couple of HOURS worth of time outs (accumulative) before they get it, but eventually, they will give up.

I always take my own son's hand and tell him.  OUCH!  That hurts!  You must be kind and so gentle to Mommy.  And I take his hand and show him how.  If he continues to hit, he sits in time out (one minute per year of age).  After time out, I tell him that he sat in time out because he hit Mommy.  Hitting is not allowed.  Be kind.  Tell Mommy you're sorry, hugs and kisses... and let's go play.  I try a new activity and when the hitting starts again (because eventually, it will), it's all over again.

Parenting in the toddler years is all about consistent discipline and repetition of lessons. :)  Exhausting, but necessary.  It sounds like you're doing the EXACT thing you're supposed to.  Just stick with it.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have to agree with the other posters who say don't hit back. It's hard for them to learn the lesson not to hit, when we as parents do it ourselves!

What we do with our son, who turned to in April is hold his hands firmly and say "Do not hit mommy, hitting hurts mommy." Then, he gets a time out. When we're done the time out we always ask him why he had to have a time out. He'll tell me "Hit mommy, sorry mommy" followed by a hug. We'll always have long hug after, and I'll ask him "Isn't this nicer than hitting?" You may have to do this over and over and over and over..... he'll get it eventually.

Answer 3

I have worked in a two year old room and a one year old room.  I am 8 classes away from my degree in early childhood development.  I can tell you that the experts say "don't hit you child.  It teaches them to hit." I say tell your son hitting hurts and don't hit daddy."  If the behavior continues, figure out where the behavior is coming from.  Attention?  Is he getting attention from you  when he doesn't hit?  When he does hit, and you hit him back, you're giving him negative attention, and to a child that's still attention.   Next time he hits don't show any reaction just tell him calmly and firmly," Hands are for helping, not hitting. Hitting hurts." If he laughs or hits again, make him sit in a thinking chair.  Then walk away and ignore him for a minute or so.  It will take a while, but eventually he will get it.  You just have to figure out where the aggressive behavior is coming from. if it's attention he's seeking, set some time away for daddy and me time. Something that helps  my toddlers remember is i take there hand, and have them stroke the side of my face and say "gentle.  See use your gentle hands."  Make him understand what gentle hands are.  SO the next time he goes to hit, remind him to use his gentle hands.

Answer 4

kneel down in front of him and hold his hands firmly down by his side.  Have him look you in the eyes and say VERY firmly (but don't yell at him), "You WILL NOT hit me."  Every time he does this repeat this.  If it doesn't work then accompany it with a time out.

Answer 5

I suppose it'll pass... my almost 15mo is the same way - he thinks it's funny... I spank him which isn't showing anything other than it hurts to smack so I'm hoping between that and timeout he'll figure it out... goodluck

Answer 6

Oh, my gosh that's a baby tame, first try to not get him angry unless if some wish from him is ungranted, second, DO NOT GIVE HIM child-like things(Time-out, disclipine and that's all). third, give him something that he likes and you might have a 60% chance of not getting hit. Time-out must be up to 65 seconds.

Answer 7

My toddler jumps on my head every time i'm laying down

Answer 8

pssh just hit him back, problem solved