15 month old slapping...HELP!

[xzaviers_mama]

I have no clue what to do with DS3.  He's only 15 months old, and he is slapping me every chance he gets!  If he's doing something that he shouldn't, and I pick him up to redirect him, he slaps me across the face.  I've been picking  him up facing away from me, and he just arches his back and swings his hands around like a mad man.  It's so embarrassing...I actually flinch when he raises his hands...lol.  He was trying to run from me tonight in the store, and when I picked him up, he smacked me so hard it made my eyes water.  I've been holding his hands down to his belly, and saying "we do NOT hit" in my deepest voice possible... but so far, he just laughs.

Any advice?

Also, DS2 will be 3 in February, and teeth brushing is a huge battlle.  I have to sit on the floor and lay him down, then do this ridiculous move with my legs to pin him down long enough to get a mediocre brushing in.  I've tried having him brush his teeth with me, with his older brother... letting him brush my teeth, buying him toothbrushes he chooses, etc.  I think he's got a cavity in one of his top molars, and that makes me feel horrible.  It also breaks my heart to pin him like that... he screams "please mommy stop!" 

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

[ShezzaAsh]

I wish I had some advice! I'm just here to commiserate :)  

I'm looking for some advice myself with my 15 month old who CONSTANTLY bites, scratches or pinches.  And yes, my DH and I BOTH flinch whenever her hand comes up!  I try do the "gentle" response.... but it's not working and I find that I have started to react to her in a frustrating manner (my "no's" have become louder with each consecutive scratch).... Good luck with your LO.  I hope there's a solution out there!

[ThankfulMama]

Mama of an almost 18mo old here. . .  Hitting and scratching and kicking going on for a while now (I posted in extended BF about this recently).  Feeling discouraged. . .

[Jerlin]

Mom of a 13-month old here.  Yep, we're going through the same thing!

[cyclamen]

DD 17mo does this too.  Usually when she gets really excited, so it sounds different than your son OP.  One thing that seems to have helped (not permanently... yet.... see my thread about biting in toddlers, lol) is giving her another physical activity.  For us it's hugs and kisses / gentle touches.  So she slaps me or tries to slap me and I grab her hand and and show her how to give a gentle touch on my face.  Then she pets my face.  Or I remind her, "Kisses!"  And she'll start kissing and hugging me with approximately as much vigor as she was slapping.

Sometimes I think they just want to physically connect but they don't know the right way to do it.

She does slap at me if she wants space too.  I've been trying to teach her "space!" (& respect it) but that's also a work in progress.  I also tell her, "I am going to pick you up now."  So she knows what's coming, like if I have to pick her up in the store or something for safety or convenience sake.

It's a phase, right?  :)

[hartfelt]

My 13 month old is hitting, pulling hair, and sometimes biting. We say no and put her down. She laughs when we tell her no, but when we put her down she cries and gets upset. We try to explain that she cannot hit, or whatever else she did and try to make her wait a minute before picking her up or letting her get back on the couch. I notice she does it mostly when she is bored. If she starts hitting/pulling hair and I get on the floor and play with her she stops. I don't think she realizes it hurts. I think she just wants a reaction from us? I don't know, but I hope this phase is over soon.

[littlegreenlady]

Have you tried giving them a pillow to hit? This works with my 14 mo ds sometimes.

Someone recommended this saying sometimes they just want to really use their muscles.

I've also noticed my lo does this more when I'm having hard days.

His grandfather told me to deflect his hits martial art style so he can't hurt me, but so there isn't a big reaction.

Just keep doing what I was doing like it's no big deal.

I haven't gotten this one down, so I can't say if it works yet.

I'm hoping he won't hit other people, so far I haven't had to come up with a solution/way to handle that.