Hitting?

[cristeen]

Is there any way to teach my 5 mo to stop hitting and head-butting? It's quite painful... and I'm surprised I don't have a black eye from the head butt the other day (right to the orbital ridge). I could do without the hair-pulling too, but I'd rather that than the fingers in the eye or the fist to the trachea.

[beebalmmama]

If there is a way I never found it. I never thought I'd be hit so hard from a 6 month old. Those head buts hurt! Just wait until the toddler and preschooler age on hitting........
Good luck.

I think what I did do was kind of redirect the hitting and say "ouch that really hurt mama" or something to that effect and try to occupy his attention or calm him. With the head butting I just learned to see them coming and get out of the way.

[cristeen]

I kinda figured, but thought I'd ask, just in case.

The pinches are really painful, too. Never thought I'd be getting beat up by such a small little critter.

[firewoman]

Baby movements are still very flaily at this point. The baby doesn't purposely hit and headbutt you. You just have to be careful and anticipate the flail.

[tzs]

padded straightjacket

[dislocator3972]

My DD's physical affection has been pretty aggressive. I know it's not intentional, but we got her to ease up a bit by saying "No" firmly and sternly while moving her (her hand/head/offending part) away from us. After a few days she started grinning slowly (I KNOW my 6 month old cannot be as maniacal as this grin suggests) as soon as we said no. So now we say No, then sit her down off of our laps (usually on the floor) for about 30 seconds. Sometimes it's the new scenery that just distracts her, sometimes she genuinely seems sorry. I wasn't 100% sure she was getting the connection, but then she stopped beating us about the face. Glory, Allelujah! Took about 2 weeks maybe.

When they're young, any type of corrective action has to be slow and gentle, and expectations have to be lenient, but I think it is possible to help the little ones learn to avoid certain movements.

For the record, we didn't withhold any affection or interaction, just moved the temptation out of arms' reach. When we sat her on the floor we still played with her, just farther away so she couldn't scratch our eyeballs out.

Good luck!

[texmati]

DS slaps my boob when feeding. I do try to take his hand and say gentle mama, gentle milky, but I don't think he has the coordination to pat.

[Xavismom]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I kinda figured, but thought I'd ask, just in case.

The pinches are really painful, too. Never thought I'd be getting beat up by such a small little critter.

DS has been VERY pinchy lately... ouch!! I do the re-direct thing, and say 'OW' but it doesnt really help. He's learned how to pinch with the tips of his fingernails, and especially likes to do it while BFing or in his Mei Tai. Some days my chest looks like its been attacked by a wild animal!

[mkksmom]

My little girl is pretty tough. I will usually take her hand say, "That hurts mama." I don't say it firmly. I save that for chomping on the nipple when feeding. Even then I try to to be scary, just serious, matter of fact. After I tell her it hurts, I stroke her hand/arm gently and say "Gentle. That's gentle." or something similar. She smiles usually. I also find it much better when I file her nails often. She likes to grab/pinch and scratch.