1 year old aggression

[Harper'sMommy]

My Little One just turned 1. It's wonderful, and we have a great time together.

She has started developing a bit of a temper and is getting a bit aggressive. I am the first of all of my friends to have a baby, so not sure how I should handle it. It's not overwhelming to me, and I feel as though this is normal. I just want to know what you experienced moms out there do when dealing with tantrums and hitting.

She tends to smack me and pinch me, in the face mostly. I don't like this. And I don't want her to think it's okay. Is it too early to seriously enforce "NO."? And if so - what has been the most effective method for you all? As for tantrums, as of now, if she isn't communicating something real (aside from her frustration that she can't go down the stairs because the gate is locked), I have started walking away, allowing the tantrum to fizzle. I am in high hopes this method will show her that it won't get her anywhere. :

Any tips, stories would be GREATLY appreciated. I really want to be on the right track!

Thank you!

[lolar2]

We did for DS what they did at his daycare-- whenever he hit (assuming it was out of overexcitement, not anger), we would say "Gentle touches" and move his hand gently. We also randomly would stroke him sometimes and say "Gentle touches" so he really got the concept of what it meant. It took a looong time to be really effective; it was very, very gradual. He is 22 months now and the lightbulb really seemed to turn on at 20 months. He now only rarely hits from overexcitement. But even earlier on, there was SOME improvement. At the petting zoo he petted the goats saying "gentle, gentle" when he was 17 months.

With the tantrums, you can also say in words, "You are upset because the door is locked. It's hard to be upset," and sometimes that helps.