Pinching/clawing/grabbing

[batsister]

My 14-month-old often grabs at my skin the way he would grab my pant leg or shirt sleeve to get my attention-- but it really hurts on bare skin! I have clipped his fingernails, and I try to encourage him to use "gentle" touch instead (this has worked pretty well to keep him from hitting us, which he sometimes did when younger-- now if we say "gentle" he will usually start petting his dad or me softly)... but he either laughs or doesn't seem to get it. Tips? Suggestions? Commiseration?

Thanks!

[exigently]

our 'gentle' daughter has taken to pulling my hair/papa's beard. when we express pain, she thinks its a hilarious 'drama'. i know quite what you feel! i can't offer much advice....we are 'gentle touch' sorts too.....and we also give her outlet for 'loud emotion'. i think it must be merely a thing of the age? something so child-like, we dont know how to 'get it'. we keep on trying to show her 'soft touch' and 'calm expression'...hehe she does not seem to notice!

so, we try to bear with it. give her plenty of ways to express that toddler exuberance, and re-direct it in a safe way. well...she still pulls our hair! the issue might be impulse control....a toddler might 'know' a better way to express, but they might very well forget that in the moment!

sorry if i can't offer any good strategy. we are in in the same boat. i guess the most help i can offer is....bear with your little one, keep loving...and plenty of us are going throight the same thing!

,
ejva : nsva