my 14 month old keeps hitting my 4 year old!

[Thing1Thing2]

My 14 month old DS is always hitting my 4 year old DS on the head with toys. He has really hurt him a few times and the 4 year old gets resentful and hurts the little one as well. Just wondering if there are gentle parenting ideas.

Also wondering if anyone elses 14 month old has this type of behavior. My first has Aspergers, so we never got an idea of what is typical for a baby.

My 14 month old also can not sit still for one minute, is into everything and is always getting hurt. He bashes into things. climbs all over the place - does not stop for one second!

Any advice would be appreciated!

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I'm really enjoying this Louise Aimes book about "Your 2 Year Old". So much so that I wish I had gotten the books for the younger ages. One adorable thing she said is that 18 month olds seemingly learn through their feet - referring to how they run around all over the place. 

Normally, I would have said that you should task your 4 year old with protecting himself and modeling gentleness to your 14 month old but I'm not sure if that expectation is appropriate for a 4 year old with Aspergers. 

I think 14 months is only really going to be receptive to your modeling gentleness and just watching to be sure he doesn't hit is brother. Of course you could do things like "baby proof" him in a way so that he doesn't have any toys that could really hurt your 4 year old.

That's what I've got. 

[Thing1Thing2]

Thanks. I can try both ideas.

Sounds like a great book. I think I read "Your Three Year Old" by the same author.

[Greenlea]

Does he talk at all? At that age my son would hit alot because he was actually trying to communicate and then would get frustrated when he didn't know the word or no one could understand him. He would hit other kids in daycare, when really he wanted to play with them but didn't have a way to tell them.

We worked on sign language for "play" and "help" and other main words he didn't know already. It really helped with the hitting.

[Thing1Thing2]

He doesn't talk yet, but I can tell he is trying really hard. I think you are right. Come to think of it, he mostly hits when my 4 year old is playing. He walks over with a toy and bangs it on his head repeatedly. Im going to try havgin my 4 year old take the toy and play together with him. Thanks!