18Month Old Slapping and Headbutting

My 21 mo old started slapping, headbutting, and pushing at around that age. We use words like "Gentle" and "Nice hands" and try to show by example, but he is VERY willful and it just doesn't stick sometimes.
We also used to put him in his high chair in piano room (which is very boring) for a 1-2 minute time out. Now, he is in a booster and the high chair has gone into storage. We still do time out in a different chair, but we have to threaten the "paddle" if he continues to get out of the chair. We only had to pop him once on his little pamper butt with a wooden spatula for the "paddle" concept to stick. Now, he doesn't try to fight anymore and begrudgingly accepts his fate (but not without a HUGE fuss!).
As for the behavior- it has gotten better. He still tries to push kids smaller than him down from time to time. We still have to keep an eye on him. Lately, he has been doing very good about saying he is sorry. So, we are having small successes.
Good luck!

Can she crawl out of the pack and play? If not, I would make that your time out spot! Put her where she cannot see you. Tell her slapping hurts and we don't hurt people that we love. When she does something say we don't climb on furniture, the couch is for sitting on. YOu are getting a time out for climbing. put her in the pack and play, no toys, sippy cup etc and no interaction for 2 minutes. Then get her out and say you got a time out for climbing you owe Mommy an a hug (have her say sorry if she speaks) I have one of the toe keepers too!

M., our son is 17 months old and is the same way. It's a stage.....they just can not deal with there frustrations. We never hit him back(even though I have nothing against spanking, but not at this age). Time outs do not really work either since they can not undestand it yet.He does head budding when I carry him upstairs to go to bed, I just tell him no, it is not nice but carry on with what I am doing. When he hits (if he does not get his way) I remove myself from the situaton, and tell him that we can play again when he plays nice(and that hands are for hugs not for hitting).
I know right now it seams that all that explaining is not making any difference, but be patient....she will get it.
And hang in there you're not along

.

I understand exactly what u r going through. I have a 3 yr old boy who use to love doing the same thing. I know u dont like to hit because u think u r teaching her to do just that, but sometimes I think a tiny little pop...to show her that it really does hurt...is ok. Thats how I broke my son. Once he learned that it stings, then I tought him that thats how it feels when he does it and its not nice then he stopped doing it. Good luck w/this...just remember that every child is different so what might work for me may not work for you so keep ur options opened here...

you should never hold your child down for a time out. that will just turn the whole thing into a power struggle. you just place her in the chair, and leave. if she gets up, place her back in the chair. it may take all day the first time, but she will get it. just keep it up until she stays sitting. every day it should get a little easier.

I am definitely showing my niece this so she will know she is not alone! My great niece started about this age too- she is turning 2 in a few days. If we were holding her we would oput her down- then she would headbutt the floor!! The doctor said this is completely normal and to ignore it. If she pinches us we pinch her back (just not as hard). We will usually say "that was mean", or thats a "no no" and turn away from her. Most of the time this works but she can be stubborn as heck so we have had to use time outs. If she gets up we put her back in the chair. I was lucky not to have went through anything like this with my son but my daughter was terrible about biting. I bit her back one day (much harder then I had intended) and she finally stopped.

Have you been adding new foods to your daughter's diet in the last 3 months? Any bright colored "kid" foods? If so, take a thorough look at www.feingold.org. Feingold is a 30yr old non-profit association whose purpose is to inform the public about petroleum based artificial ingredients in our foods. These artificial colors, flavors and preservatives can cause ADD,ADHD, OCD, violent tantrums, etc. Your daughter sounds a lot like my oldest daughter. Feingold was a Godsend for our family - it is not as hard to do as it seems and definately worth it. Good luck!

L. B.